The radioreceptor assay system for TSH is considered to be useful in quantitating the hormone and analyzing the mechanism of its action. The assay was established, and the interaction of abnormal thyroid stimulators in Graves' patients was evaluated in this assay system. A 10,000xg fraction of human thyroid homogenates was used as the receptor. Human TSH supplied from NIH was iodinated by using lactoperoxidase. The binding of 125I-TSH to the receptor was small, and 125I-TSH was further purified by the receptor binding. The receptor (25mg equivalent), purified 125I-TSH, and standard TSH or a sample were incubated at 37 degrees C for 60 min in a final volume of 300 microliters. The binding of 125I-TSH to the receptor was time- and temperature-dependent with optimal binding under the conditions described above. The binding was completely inhibited by the addition of human, bovine and ovine TSH and partially inhibited by high concentrations of HCG, FSH-LH. However, there was no cross reactivity with insulin, prostaglandin E1, E2, T3, T4 and Nal. The assay was sensitive enough to detect 5 to 50 microU of TSH. The amount of TSH bound to the receptor was almost parallel to the TSH concentration which is necessary to stimulate human thyroid adenylate cyclase activity. Studies of dissociation kinetics and Scatchard plot indicated that there were two classes of TSH receptors in the human thyroid. A higher association constant was calculated as 1.5 x 10(8)M-1. LATS-IgG from a patient with Graves' disease completely inhibited the binding of 125I-TSH to the receptor, and studies of Lineweaver-Burk, plot suggested that TSH and LATS-IgG shared common binding sites. The radioreceptor assay of TSH appears to be useful in evaluating the abnormal thyroid stimulators present in Graves' disease.