We have reported previously that hydrogen peroxide induces arachidonic acid release from prelabeled vascular smooth muscle cells. Here, we studied the effect of hydrogen peroxide on the phosphorylation of cytosolic phospholipase A(2) in these cells. Hydrogen peroxide induced a rapid, time-dependent increase in the phosphorylation of cytosolic phospholipase A(2). Hydrogen peroxide also increased arachidonic acid release from prelabeled cells in a time-dependent manner similar to that of phosphorylation of cytosolic phospholipase A(2). Protein kinase C depletion significantly inhibited the hydrogen peroxide-stimulated cytosolic phospholipase A(2) phosphorylation and arachidonic acid release. Hydrogen peroxide caused a time-dependent increase in mitogen activated protein kinase activity. Taken together, these findings suggest that cytosolic phospholipase A(2) may, at least in part, contribute to arachidonic acid release induced by hydrogen peroxide and this effect appears to be mediated by protein kinase C and mitogen activated protein kinase.