We have investigated the possibility that local production of GHRH within the adenohypophysis could be an aetiological factor in the development of human pituitary somatotroph and other tumours. We examined 51 human pituitary adenomas for GHRH transcripts using in situ hybridization histochemistry. GHRH transcripts were identified in 13 of 17 somatotroph adenomas, 4 of 10 corticotrophs, 1 of 6 lactotrophs and 1 of 18 endocrinologically inactive adenomas. In 11 GHRH-expressing somatotroph adenomas, SRIH transcripts were also identified. In all cases except one (a corticotroph adenoma) the average number of GHRH transcripts exceeded that found in the arcuate nucleus of simultaneously hybridized rat brain sections. In some pituitary adenomas, GHRH transcripts were clearly localized to a discrete subpopulation of cells and in these, the amount of GHRH mRNA per cell was comparable to that found in the GHRH-expressing cells of the rat arcuate nucleus. Although we have not directly demonstrated an association between the two, the identification of localized, high level GHRH gene expression in somatotroph adenomas suggests that GHRH may have a role in pituitary adenoma formation.