Tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA is induced in rat pheochromocytoma PC18 cells by cAMP analogs and glucocorticoids. Previous studies have shown that these increases in tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA are due at least in part to stimulation of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene. However, the involvement of post-transcriptional mechanisms in the regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA by these inducing agents has not been investigated. In the present study, using nuclear run-on assays we show that the relative transcription rate of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene is stimulated 2-5-fold within 20 min after treatment of PC18 cells with cAMP analogs or dexamethasone and that the rate of transcription remains elevated 2-3-fold for at least 24 hr in the continual presence of these inducing agents. Pulse-labeling experiments using 4-thiouridine indicate that the rate of synthesis of tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA is increased approximately 3-fold or 10-fold after treatment with either a cyclic AMP analog or dexamethasone, respectively. These increases in rates of synthesis agree well with the fold increases in tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA levels after treatment with these inducers. Treatment of the cells with cycloheximide lowers the basal relative transcription rate of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene 2-3-fold; however, the relative transcription rate of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene is still elevated in cells treated with either dexamethasone or cAMP analogs in the presence of cycloheximide, compared with the transcription rate of the gene in cells treated with cycloheximide alone. These results indicate that protein synthesis is not required for the short term regulation of the gene by these inducing agents. The apparent t1/2 for tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA has been estimated by two different procedures, approach to steady state kinetics and pulse-chase analysis. Both procedures yield an estimated apparent t1/2 of approximately 6-9 hr for tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA under basal culture conditions. Dexamethasone does not substantially alter this apparent t1/2 value; however, cAMP appears to lower this apparent t1/2 value transiently. Our results suggest that cAMP and glucocorticoid regulate tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA levels primarily by stimulating the transcription rate of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene; however, cAMP may also regulate the stability of the mRNA for a short period of time, such that it is induced more rapidly in the cells.