The BE(2)-C human neuroblastoma has been shown to express corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) messenger RNA. In this study, BE(2)-C cells were treated 5 days with 5 microM retinoic acid. Cell extracts were also applied onto a C18 Vydac column and fractions were assayed for CRF-like immunoreactivity (CRF-LI) which coincided in time of elution with oxidized or non-oxidized CRF synthetic CRF standard. With forskolin treatment, secretion media and cell extract CRF-LI increased in a concentration-dependent fashion. Thus, this cell line synthesizes and secretes CRF and is a good model for studying CRF regulation.