K-252b, a protein kinase inhibitor, has been shown earlier to inhibit nerve growth factor actions on cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain. In the present study, K-252b was found to prevent trophic actions of two other neurotrophins, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and neurotrophin-3, on central cholinergic and dopaminergic neurons, peripheral sensory neurons, and PC12 pheochromocytoma cells, when used at greater than 2 microM concentration. Comparable actions of nonneurotrophin growth factors were not affected. Surprisingly, at 0.1-100 nM, K-252b selectively enhanced the trophic action of neurotrophin-3 on central cholinergic neurons, peripheral sensory neurons, and PC12 cells. In PC12 cells, K-252b potentiated the neurotrophin-3-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of trk, a protein kinase responsible for transmitting neurotrophin signals. Of the three structurally related nerve growth factor inhibitors, K-252a, K-252b, and staurosporine, only the first two also mediated neurotrophin-3 potentiation. These findings indicate that K-252b generally and selectively potentiates the neurotrophic action of neurotrophin-3 and suggest that this action involves trk-type neurotrophin receptors.