In sheep, as in other mammalian species, the pronounced reduction in GnRH and gonadotropin secretion that characterizes stages of infertility is normally associated with a conspicuous increase in the secretion of PRL. A possible role of PRL in modulating gonadotropin release implies the presence and activation of specific receptors in target tissues (i.e. pituitary, hypothalamus). In this study, we investigated the expression of PRL receptor (PRL-R) messenger RNA (mRNA) in the sheep pituitary and the distribution of the translated product in specific pituitary cell types. Using primers designed to flank different regions of the extracellular and cytoplasmic domains of the PRL-R, two complementary DNA (cDNA) fragments, one of which was specific for the long-form PRL-R, were amplified by reverse transcriptase-PCR. Sequencing revealed more than 95% identity with nucleotides 267-1272 of the bovine PRL-R cDNA. When these cDNA fragments were used as probes for the detection of PRL-R mRNA expression by Northern analysis, three major transcripts of approximately 13, 10, and 3.5 kb were identified in the pituitary. Both probes detected identical transcripts, suggesting that primarily the long form of PRL-R is expressed in the sheep pituitary gland. No difference in the abundance of pituitary PRL-R mRNA transcripts was observed between anestrous and breeding season ewes (P > 0.05). Additional RT-PCR studies revealed the existence of a cDNA variant bearing a 39-bp insert with a premature stop codon. Translation of the PRL-R mRNA was confirmed by Western blot analysis. The identification of PRL-R in specific pituitary cell types was carried out by immunocytochemistry. Double immunofluorescent staining, using antibodies to the rat liver PRL-R and specific monoclonal antibodies to the LHbeta-subunit, FSHbeta-subunit, free alpha-subunit, PRL, or GH, revealed that in both the pars distalis and pars tuberalis, all pituitary cells expressing PRL-R immunoreactivity were positive for LHbeta, although only 53% of LHbeta-positive cells expressed PRL-R. A small proportion (2%) of gonadotrophs expressing PRL-R immunoreactivity were negative for FSHbeta, indicating the specific localization of PRL-R in LH (or LH/FSH) secreting cells. Further, a selective cytological association was detected in the pars distalis where LH gonadotrophs appeared surrounded by lactotrophs. In contrast to these observations, PRL-R immunoreactivity was completely absent in lactotrophs and in the vast majority (>98%) of somatotrophs. In conclusion, here we show the expression of PRL-R mRNA in the sheep pituitary and the specific translation of the signal in LH (or LH/FSH) gonadotrophs. These results support the hypothesis that PRL may be involved in the regulation of gonadotropin secretion through a paracrine mechanism within the pituitary gland and that this action does not seem to be mediated by changes in PRL-R mRNA expression.