According to our previous studies together with others, GnRH, a hypothalamic decapeptide, has been known to be a major regulator for LH release and its subunit biosynthesis in anterior pituitary gonadotropes. But the precise mechanisms by which GnRH exerts stimulatory effects on LH release and its subunit biosynthesis have not been clearly understood. In the present study we examined the effect of GnRH on protein kinase C (PKC) activity and intracellular cAMP content in cultured anterior pituitary cells of rat to clarify whether PKC or cAMP are involved in GnRH action. Moreover, we examined the effects of staurosporine (ST), a PKC inhibitor and 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine (2',3'-DDA), an adenylate cyclase inhibitor, on LH release and steady state LH β subunit mRNA levels in cultured anterior pituitary cells of rat. PKC activity was rapidly increased within 30 min after GnRH treatment whereas intracellular cAMP level was elevated 18 h after GnRH treatment. ST significantly inhibited GnRH-induced LH release and LH β subunit mRNA levels in a dose-dependent manner, showing an half maximal response at 50 nM ST. 2',3'-DDA inhibited GnRH-induced LH release and LH β subunit mRNA levels in a dose-dependent manner in pituitary cells. From these results, it is suggested that GnRH stimulates LH β subunit mRNA level as well as LH release in anterior pituitary cells and this GnRH action might be mediated by PKC activation and cAMP stimulation.