The gastric mucosal microcirculation and purine nucleotide metabolism were studied in rats after hemorrhagic shock and retransfusion. The mucosal surface density of perfused vessels (SDPV) and the mucosal levels of ATP, ADP, AMP, IMP, hypoxanthine and uric acid were measured following 15 min of hemorrhagic shock and 10 and 30 min after retransfusion, and the effects of pretreatment with allopurinol or ascorbate were studied. During shock there was a dephosphorylation of nucleotides and a decline in the SDPV. Retransfusion led to an additional reduction in the SDPV, but a complete restoration of preshock nucleotide levels 30 min after retransfusion. Allopurinol accelerated early rephosphorylation of nucleotides without effects upon SDPV while ascorbate completely preserved the mucosal level of energy-rich nucleotides 15 min after hemorrhagic shock and increased SDPV during early reperfusion. The results showed that there was a renewal of energy stores in gastric mucosa after hemorrhagic shock and retransfusion although parts of the vascular bed were not reperfused. The mucosal energy depletion after 15 min of hemorrhagic shock and part of the mucosal vessel injury after retransfusion were prevented by pretreatment with ascorbate.