The effect of histamine on gastric microvascular permeability to macromolecules in the rat was studied using fluorescent in vivo microscopy. Histamine was applied topically to the serosal surface for study of the muscularis externa, to the submucosa, and to the superficial mucosa, and the area of leaks of a fluorescein-albumin conjugate from microvessels was quantitated. In the muscularis externa both histamine and an H1-agonist, but not an H2-agonist, caused dose-dependent leak of conjugate from venules. An H1-antagonist, but not an H2-antagonist, decreased the histamine-induced leak. In the submucosa histamine caused dose-dependent dilatation of arterioles but not leak of conjugate. In contrast, bradykinin caused both dose-dependent dilatation of arterioles and leak of conjugate from venules. In the superficial mucosa histamine did not cause any leak. In conclusion, topical histamine 1) increased microvascular permeability to macromolecules from venules in the muscularis externa via H1-receptors, 2) did not affect microvascular permeability in the submucosa (this may be due to lack of histamine receptors on the venules as bradykinin increased venular permeability), and 3) did not affect microvascular permeability in the superficial mucosa, but there might not have been adequate histamine backdiffusion.