The effects of 90 min intravenous histamine (10 micrograms base . kg-1 . min-1) with and without beta (propranolol)-receptor blockade on lung water and hemodynamics were studied. In anesthetized dogs cold 3% saline was used as the indicator to determine cardiac index, central blood volume, and lung extravascular thermal volume. Propranolol alone decreased stroke volume and cardiac index but increased central blood volume, total peripheral resistance, and mean pulmonary arterial and pulmonary arterial wedge pressures. Pulmonary vascular resistance, mean arterial pressure, and lung extravascular thermal volume were not changed. Histamine with propranolol further reduced stroke volume and cardiac index, whereas mean pulmonary arterial and pulmonary arterial wedge pressures returned to control values. Mean arterial pressure, central blood volume, and total peripheral resistance decreased, pulmonary vascular resistance increased, and lung extravascular thermal volume remained unchanged. In all experiments postmortem extravascular lung water-to-dry weight ratio was unchanged. We conclude that histamine does not increase lung water content and that beta-receptor blockade does not modify this response.