The superficial gastric mucosal microcirculation was observed microscopically by transillumination in the anesthetized rat. The vessels surrounding the gastric crypts were monitored on a television screen through a microscope and the pictures stored on a videotape for off-line analysis of red cell velocity (VRBC) and vessel diameter. From these measurements microvascular volume flows were calculated. VRBC reached steady values after 1-4 h (mean 2 h) and showed a regular pulsatile flow (4-7 cycles/min) in most experiments. Acid output was measured at regular intervals; 50% of the rats showed no spontaneous acid output, but the others secreted up to 100 mu eq/h. The microvessels in the superficial mucosa were classified into three orders according to their branching hierarchy and relative dimensions, and their distribution per unit mass was estimated. VRBC and volume flow were shown to decrease in the successive orders of the microvessels. Calculation of organ blood flow from microvascular flow data and vessel distribution gave values (21 ml.min-1.100 g tissue-1) that agree with earlier reported values. A higher flow velocity was detected in rats with spontaneous acid output than in those without, but there was a poor correlation between the magnitude of the acid output and VRBC. Pentagastrin (96 micrograms.kg-1.h-1) induced a significant increase in both blood flow and acid secretion. Results from this study indicate that this experimental model is potentially useful for studies of the correlation between acid secretion and mucosal blood flow.