Hamsters were injected sc at 1400 hr on proestrus with either 4 mg cycloheximide (which blocks ovulation but only transiently affects ovarian protein synthesis) or saline and killed at 2-hr intervals until 0400 hr on estrus. After cycloheximide, the first surge of FSH (at 1600 hr) was half the normal value and the second surge of FSH (beginning at 2200 hr) was eliminated. Control follicles at 1400 hr had approximately the same number of FSH and hCG receptors with about one-third as many PRL receptors. Down regulation of FSH and hCG receptors for control follicles occurred by 2400 hr while PRL receptors dropped abruptly 4 hr earlier. Compared to the 1400-hr control values, the maximal loss of FSH, LH, and PRL receptors was 40, 45, and 85%, respectively. Although cycloheximide tended to slightly delay the loss of FSH receptors at 2000-2200 hr it did not prevent the ultimate fall in FSH and hCG receptors; the loss of PRL receptors was accelerated by 4 hr. Cycloheximide prevented or delayed follicular growth, resumption of meiosis, and cumulus expansion. The altered proestrous profile of steroids after cycloheximide (prolonged follicular estradiol and reduced progesterone) is therefore not associated with drastic alterations in the number of FSH and hCG binding sites. On the other hand, PRL receptors represent fast turnover protein(s).