Effects of carbachol and antigen (dinitrophenylated bovine serum albumin) on histamine release and histidine decarboxylase (HDC, the enzyme synthesizing histamine) activity were studied in 2H3-m1 cells, a subclone of rat basophilic leukemia cells that expresses human muscarinic m1 receptors through transfection with the gene. Carbachol stimulated the release of histamine and the activity of HDC with 30-50% the intensity of the maximal effect of the antigen. Pirenzepine, an m1 antagonist, inhibited these carbachol effects in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of the combination of carbachol and antigen on histamine release showed no additivity. These results indicate that these effects of carbachol are exerted via m1 receptors, and they suggest that the actions of carbachol and antigen on histamine release share a common pathway(s), and the release and synthesis of histamine have a positive relationship like in a feedback system.