Endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS), is a constituent of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, activates macrophages to release cytokines that can cause local or systemic inflammatory responses. Plasma leakage and polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration are characteristic features of inflammation. This study examined the effect of LPS to induce subcutaneous inflammatory lesions, including time course of changes in plasma extravasation and level of leukocyte influx into the tissue interstitium. To investigate LPS-induced plasma leakage in the skin, LPS (500 £gg/site) was administered by subcutaneous injection in the hindpaw skin. India ink (1 ml/kg) was used as tracer dye to measure the area density of ink-labeled leaky blood vessels. Our results showed that the postcapillary venules were leaking immediately at five minutes after LPS. The area density of India ink-labeled leaky vessels was 33.9 %¡Ó5.6 % (n=5) after the administration of LPS. The magnitude of plasma leakage was 2 times as the value of saline control (16.6 %¡Ó1.8 %, n=5). Plasma leakage peaked at 30 min (42.5 %¡Ó2.5 %, n=11) after LPS. Staining of the microvasculature by silver nitrate showed endothelial gap formation in venules and indicated the positive relevance to plasma leakage. Leukocytes (neutrophils and eosinophils) in hindpaw skin whole mounts were stained by a histochemical reaction for myeloperoxidase and the numbers of leukocytes quantified. LPS caused a severe response in leukocyte adhesion and accumulation. The number of leukocytes after LPS was 5 times as the number after saline. It is concluded that local injection of LPS in the skin caused formation of endothelial gaps and leukocyte infiltration that resulted in an increase in local vascular permeability.