Prostaglandin (PG) E1 or E2 added at 2-1,000 ng/ml to quiescent cultures of Swiss 3T3 cells synergistically enhanced the rate of initiation of DNA replication stimulated by PGF2 alpha alone or with insulin. Neither PGD2 nor PGF1 alpha had any effect with PGF2 alpha. An increase in the rate of entry into S phase also occurred when PGE1 or PGE2 was added 8 or 15 hr after addition of PGF2 alpha. However, adding PGE1 and PGE2 together with PGF2 alpha did not further enhance the synergistic effect observed with PGE1 or PGE2 separately. The synergistic effect was also observed in stimulation of 2-deoxyglucose uptake but not in early changes of intracellular levels of cAMP. These results may be relevant in understanding the control of fibroblastic proliferation in wound healing and may provide an alternative mechanism for oncogenic transformation.