Mast cells isolated from the peritoneal fluid of Wistar rats were purified by centrifugation on Percoll gradient with a yield of 2x10(6) cells/ml. Cell morphology was well preserved as shown by light and electron microscopy. The mast cells capacity to bind histamine was assayed using either [3H]-histamine or histamine-ferritin conjugate as electron-opaque probe for electron microscopic examination. The [3H]-histamine binding performed at 4 degrees C in Ca2+-free phosphate-buffered saline pH 7.3 completed within 30 min was found to be specific, with an IC50 value of 0.72 +/- 0.23 nM. The data analyses by Scatchard and Hill's representations showed a KD of 0.60 +/- 0.24 nM and Bmax of 4.9 +/- 1.2 pM/10(6) cells suggesting that on mast cells the histamine receptors are restricted to the plasma membrane. According to Hill's analysis neither positive nor negative cooperativity (n = 1.06) appeared to be involved in the specific histamine-receptor binding. Competition experiments with 4-methylhistamine and SK&F 93479, revealed that mast cells express H2-histamine receptors. At electron microscopic level, the histamine-ferritin conjugate interstitially injected in the hamster cheek pouch was localized on the mast cell membrane.