Somatostatin (SRIF) inhibits stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) release from mouse anterior pituitary tumor cells (AtT-20/D16-16). In order to determine whether guanine nucleotide inhibitory proteins (Ni) mediate these effects, AtT-20 cells were treated with pertussis toxin, an agent that inactivates Ni. Pertussis toxin catalyses the ADP-ribosylation of a 41,000 MW protein in membranes of AtT-20 cells. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin prevents the subsequent ability of toxin to catalyse the labeling of Ni. This effect is dependent on the time of pretreatment and is not reversible. The inhibition of SRIF of forskolin-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation and ACTH release is prevented by pertussis toxin treatment. The blockade is dependent on the time and concentration of toxin used and is not reversible. Pertussis toxin treatment prevents SRIF from inhibiting corticotropin releasing factor and cholera toxin-stimulated cyclic AMP synthesis. The inhibition of K+ and 8-bromocyclic AMP-stimulated ACTH release by SRIF is attenuated partially by toxin treatment. The ability of forskolin and cholera toxin to stimulate cyclic AMP formation and ACTH release is enhanced by treatment of AtT-20 cells with pertussis toxin. The increased cyclic AMP response to forskolin is prevented by cycloheximide. The data indicate that Ni mediates the inhibition by SRIF of cyclic AMP formation and the ACTH release that results from adenylate cyclase stimulation.