To investigate whether phospholipase $A_2$pathway is involved in histamine release of rat peritoneal mast cells, we measured histamine release in the presence of various enzyme inhibitors involved in eicosanoid pathway, such as phospholipase $A_2$, cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase. Phospholipase $A_2$inhibitors, manoalide and OPC, significantly inhibited histamine release induced by 100 $mu$M ATP and 1$mu$g/ml compound 48/80. Cyclooxygenase inhibitors, ibuprofen and indomethacin, significantly inhibited ATP-induced histamine release and lipoxygenase inhibitors, baicalein and caffeic acid, also significantly inhibited. To investigate the involvement of protein kinase in ATP- and compound 48/80-induced histamine release, we observed effects of protein kinase inhibitors on histamine release. Bisindolmaleimide (protein kinase C antagonist) dose-dependently inhibited both ATP and compound 48/80-induced histamine release. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (methyl 2,5-dihydroxy cinnamate and genistein) dose-dependently inhibited ATP and compound 48/80-induced histamine release. Protein kinase C and tyrosine kinase seem to be involved in histamine release induced by ATP and compound 48/80. These results suggest that phospholipase $A_2$pathway as well as protein kinase C and tyrosine kinase are involved in histamine release of rat peritoneal mast cells by ATP and compound 48/80.