Ultracytochemical localization of ATPase during development of rice endosperm was performed using a lead phosphate precipitation technique. The results indicated that, at the coenocyte and ceilularization stages, active ATPase was mainly distributed in an embryo sac wall, nucleus, and plasma membrane. At the early stage of development and differentiation, active ATPase was observed in the plasma membrane. At the grain filling stage, ATPase was highly active in the plasma membrane, intercellular space, and plasmodesmata in aleurone, moderately active on the plasma membrane in subaleurone. In starchy endosperm, ATPase was localized in the plasma membrane and degenerated nucleus. ATPase activity also appeared around vacuole and protein body in endosperm cell. The relationships between the ultracytochemical localization of ATPase and its function during the development of rice endosperm were discussed. Overall, ATPase was involved in the process of nutrition absorption and protein synthesis.