Using neuroblastoma cells as a model of developing neurons, we have tested the hypothesis that thyroid hormones alter cAMP metabolism. Neuroblastoma cells were grown in serum-free defined medium for 48 h with or without thyroid hormones. Treatment with 20-200 nM 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) increased the accumulation of cAMP by intact cells without altering growth, gross morphology, or DNA or protein content. The increase in cAMP accumulation could be detected 5 h after the addition of T3 and was abolished by the addition of cycloheximide. The maximum stimulation produced by prostaglandin E1 was increased in T3 cells without a significant alteration of the half-maximal concentration. T4 and D-T3 in concentrations up to 20 microM did not increase cAMP accumulation. Adenylate cyclase activity in response to forskolin, guanine nucleotides, and stimulatory hormones was increased in purified membranes from cells grown in T3, suggesting that increased adenylate cyclase is probably the major mechanism of the observed response to thyroid hormone.