1. Histidine decarboxylase in the enterochromaffin-like cells of the gastric corpus mucosa converts histidine to histamine which in turn stimulates gastric acid secretion. The control of histidine decarboxylase activity is poorly understood. We have examined how fasting and refeeding influence the abundance of the messenger RNA encoding histidine decarboxylase in the gastric corpus of the rat. 2. The polymerase chain reaction was used to generate a probe for detection of histidine decarboxylase messenger RNA in Northern and slot blots of total RNA from the gastric corpus of rats fasted for up to 48 h, or fasted and then refed. A gastrin monoclonal antibody was used to neutralize the action of endogenous gastrin. 3. Fasting progressively reduced histidine decarboxylase messenger RNA abundance by 3- to 4-fold after 48 h. Refeeding induced a rapid increase in histidine decarboxylase messenger RNA abundance which was detectable after 30 min. 4. There was a significant correlation between histidine decarboxylase messenger RNA abundance and plasma gastrin. Administration of gastrin antibody inhibited the increase in histidine decarboxylase activity after 6 h refeeding, but not after refeeding for 30 min. 5. The results suggest that histamine-mediated changes in postprandial acid secretion depend on control of histidine decarboxylase mRNA levels, and that gastrin regulates production of this enzyme in the rat over periods of a few hours.