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The GH-releasing hormone receptor (GHRH-R) is a critical link between hypothalamic GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) and pituitary GH secretion. However, the factors that regulate GHRH-R are not well understood. Despite the importance of thyroid hormone and glucocorticoids in influencing the GH axis in vivo, it is not known whether these hormones act directly at the pituitary to regulate expression of GHRH-R. We tested the effects of T3 and hydrocortisone on GHRH-R gene expression in primary pituitary cell cultures of adult male rats. Pituitary cells were treated for 24h with increasing concentrations of T3 (0.06-60 nM) or hydrocortisone (2.8 nM-2.8 microM). GHRH-R mRNA levels were assessed by ribonuclease protection assay. T3 caused a striking dose-dependent increase in GHRH-R mRNA, reaching levels 5.1 +/- 0.5 fold over controls (P < 0.001). Hydrocortisone also stimulated a marked dose-dependent increase in GHRH-R mRNA, reaching levels 5.6 +/- 0.7 fold over controls (P < 0.001). Combined treatment with both hormones did not cause further augmentation of GHRH-R mRNA levels. These data indicate that T3 and hydrocortisone act directly at the pituitary as potent regulators of GHRH-R gene expression.