We examined the effects of interleukin-3 (IL-3) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) on connective tissue-type mast cells (CTMC) purified from murine peritoneal cells. Although both factors failed to induce extensive proliferation of CTMC, they stimulated CTMC proliferation synergistically in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment of CTMC with IL-3 and/or IL-4 indicated that the sustained presence of both factors was required for the development of type 1 mast cell colonies. The delayed addition of IL-3 to cultures of purified CTMC with IL-4 induced no colony formation, while the delayed addition of IL-4 to cultures with IL-3, even on day 28 of culture, induced type 1 colony formation. In replating type 1 colonies induced by IL-3 and IL-4 to secondary cultures with IL-3 alone, few secondary colonies developed. However, the delayed addition of IL-4 to the secondary culture induced many type 1 colonies. The purified CTMC cultured with IL-3 retained the morphological and cytochemical characteristics of CTMC, as well as proliferative ability. These observations indicate that IL-3 supports the survival of CTMC in methylcellulose culture and that IL-4 triggers and supports CTMC proliferation synergistically with IL-3. The serum-free culture of purified CTMC and the culture of single CTMC demonstrated that the synergistic effect of IL-3 and IL-4 on colony growth and the surviving effect of IL-3 on CTMC require no influence from accessory cells or other humoral factors.