Aims/hypothesis. Overwhelming evidence indicates that endothelial cell dysfunction in diabetes is characterised by diminished endothelium-dependent relaxation, but the matter of the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. As nitric oxide (NO) production from the endothelium is the major player in endothelium-mediated vascular relaxation, we investigated the effects of high glucose on NO production, and the possible alterations of signalling pathways implicated in this scenario. Methods. NO production and intracellular Ca 2+ levels ([Ca 2+ ] i ) were assessed using the fluorescent probes 4,5-diaminofluorescein diacetate and fura-2 respectively. Results. Exposure of cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells to high glucose for 5 or 10 days significantly reduced NO production induced by bradykinin (but not by Ca 2+ ionophore) in a time-and dose-dependent manner. This was probably due to an attenuation in bradykinin-induced elevations of [Ca 2+ ] i under these conditions, since a close correlation between [Ca 2+ ] i increases and NO generation was observed in intact bovine aortic endothelial cells. Both bradykinin-promoted intracellular Ca 2+ mobilisation and extracellular Ca 2+ entry were affected. Moreover, bradykinin-induced formation of Ins(1,4,5)P 3 , a phospholipase C product leading to increases in [Ca 2+ ] i , was also inhibited following high glucose culture. This abnormality was not attributable to a decrease in inositol phospholipids, but possibly to a reduction in the number of bradykinin receptors. The alterations in NO production, the increases in [Ca 2+ ] i , and the bradykinin receptor number due to high glucose could be largely reversed by protein kinase C inhibitors and D-α-tocopherol (antioxidant). Conclusions/interpretation. Chronic exposure to high glucose reduces NO generation in endothelial cells, probably by impairing phospholipase-C-mediated Ca 2+ signalling due to excess protein kinase C activation. This defect in NO release may contribute to the diminished endothelium-dependent relaxation and thus to the development of cardiovascular diseases in diabetes.