In order to evaluate the intracellular signaling pathway of endothelin 1 (ET-1), we examined mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade in cultured rat glomerular mesangial cells. Treatment of quiescent mesangial cells with ET-1 increased kinase activities toward bovine myelin basic protein (MBP). Maximal activation was at 10 min and ED50 was about 5 nM. The 44- and 42-kDa kinases were activated in MBP containing gel kinase assay. These kinases were identified as extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) 1 and ERK2 with immunoblotting, respectively. MAPK or ERK kinase (MEK), one of the MAPK kinases, was present in rat mesangial cells and ET-1 also activated this MAPK kinase. These results indicate that MAPK kinase and MAP kinase are rapidly activated by ET-1 and may modulate cellular functions in rat mesangial cells.