During second and third weeks after birth in rats, serum thyroid hormone level is elevated. In this study, we investigated the jejunal expression of thyroid hormone receptor (TR) alpha in developing rats. The TRalpha-1 mRNA level and TRalpha-1/TRalpha-2 mRNA ratio increased two-fold from 5 to 13 days after birth. This high level of TRalpha-1 mRNA was maintained until 20 days and then decreased to the basal level by the end of weaning period at 27 days; however, the level of TRalpha-2 mRNA remained unchanged throughout the developmental period. The increase in the TRalpha-1/TRalpha-2 mRNA ratio from 5 to 13 days was accompanied by an initial rise in the levels of mRNA for hexose transporters in the jejunum. Administration of T(3) during the suckling period (8-13 days) caused a 50% increase in the TRalpha-1/TRalpha-2 mRNA ratio, while administration of T(3) on days 12-17 and days 16-21, but not on days 22-27, caused a two to four-fold increase in the levels of mRNA for hexose transporters. These results suggest that a transient variation in the TRalpha-1/TRalpha-2 expression ratio is closely related to the critical period of thyroid hormone responsiveness for hexose transporters expression in the developing rat jejunum.