It has been shown recently that SKF 38393-A (2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-benzazepine-7-ol), a D-1 receptor agonist, possesses a prolactin-releasing effect in the rat, though the pituitary or central nervous system location of the receptors involved has not been clarified. The aim of our study was to elucidate this point. SKF 38393-A administered to freely moving adult female and male rats induced a striking, short-lived increase of basal prolactin levels. The prolactin stimulatory effect of SKF 38393-A was counteracted by pretreatment with SCH 23390, A D-1 receptor blocker. SKF 38393-A (10(-11)-10(-6)M) added to monolayer primary cultures of anterior pituitary cells from rats of both sexes failed to modify prolactin release. At higher concentrations (10(-5)-10(-4) M) the drug induced a slight inhibition of prolactin release. Similarly, SKF 38393-A failed to stimulate adenylate cyclase activity in anterior pituitary membranes from rats of both sexes at low concentrations, while it inhibited enzyme activity at higher concentrations (10(-5)-10(-3) M). The latter effect was counteracted by concomitant addition of the antagonist of D-2 receptors, 1-sulpiride. These data demonstrate that: (1) the anterior pituitary does not contain D-1-dopamine receptors (positively coupled to adenylate cyclase) stimulatory to prolactin release; (2) the striking prolactin-releasing effect of SKF 38393-A in the rat is due to activation of extra-pituitary D-1 dopamine receptors; (3) SKF 38393-A, at high concentrations, is capable of activating pituitary D-2 receptors.