The rate, concentration dependence and extent of histamine-evoked Weibel-Palade body (WPB) exocytosis were investigated with time-resolved fluorescence microscopy in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells expressing WPB-targeted chimeras of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). Exocytosis of single WPBs was characterized by an increase in EGFP fluorescence, morphological changes and release of WPB contents. The fluorescence increase was due to a rise of intra-WPB pH from resting levels, estimated as pH 5.45 +/- 0.26 (s.d., n = 144), to pH 7.40. It coincided with uptake of extracellular Alexa-647, indicating the formation of a fusion pore, prior to loss of fluorescent contents. Delays between the increase in intracellular free calcium ion concentration evoked by histamine and the first fusion event were 10.0 +/- 4.42 s (n = 9 cells) at 0.3 mum histamine and 1.57 +/- 0.21 s (n = 15 cells) at 100 mum histamine, indicating the existence of a slow process or processes in histamine-evoked WPB exocytosis. The maximum rates of exocytosis were 1.20 +/- 0.16 WPB s(-1) (n = 9) at 0.3 mum and 3.66 +/- 0.45 WPB s(-1) at 100 mum histamine (n = 15). These occurred 2-5 s after histamine addition and declined to lower rates with continued stimulation. The initial delays and maximal rate of exocytosis were unaffected by removal of external Ca(2+) indicating that the initial burst of secretion is driven by Ca(2+) release from internal stores, but sustained exocytosis required external Ca(2+). Data were compared to exocytosis evoked by a maximal concentration of the strong secretagogue ionomycin (1 mum), for which there was a delay between calcium elevation and secretion of 1.67 +/- 0.24 s (n = 6), and a peak fusion rate of approximately 10 WPB s(-1).