Histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells induced by polyethylenimine (mol. wt = 600) was inhibited by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu), but not by 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate (4 alpha-PDD). 2. Histamine release induced by polyallylamine (mol. wt = 10,000) was enhanced by PMA and PDBu, but not by 4 alpha-PDD. 3. K-252a reduced the inhibitory effect of PMA on histamine release induced by polyethylenimine and its enhancing effect on histamine release by polyallylamine.