This study was undertaken to determine some of the electrophysiological effects of histamine on the coronary arterial vascular smooth muscle of the dog. Transmembrane potentials were recorded from small (<500 μm o.d.) isolated canine coronary arteries with glass microelectrodes filled with 3 M KC1. Histamine (10−6M) increased the resting membrane potential (Em) from -55 to -64 mV and reduced input resistance from 9.8 to 4.0 mO. These effects of histamine were abolished when Mn2+(1 mM) was added to block Ca2+influx.The amplitude, maximal rate of rise, and frequency of the Ca2+-dependent action potential induced by tetraethylammonium ion (TEA) increased in the presence of histamine in a dose-dependent manner (10−7to 10−6M). Also, the effect of histamine on the TEA-induced action potential was inhibited by the H1antagonist pyrilamine maleate (10−7M). When tension was recorded from helically cut strips of coronary arteries, variable results were obtained upon addition of histamine; i.e., some preparations showed no change in tension and others, a small increase. When histamine was added to this preparation in the presence of TEA, tension increased to 60% of the maximum contraction induced by K+. These findings suggest that histamine increases the Ca2+inward current in coronary arterial smooth muscle. The hyperpolarization induced by histamine may be due to an increased K+conductance that is mediated by an increased Ca2+influx, since inhibition of Ca2+influx by Mn2+prevented the hyperpolarization. Circ Res 46: 372-377, 1980