Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats averaging 300 g each were subjected to complete food removal for 7 days (acutely starved), 7 days complete food removal followed by 2 weeks of 1/4 ad libitum food intake (chronically strved), 7 days complete food removal and 2 weeks of 1/4 ad libitum intake followed by ad libitum feeding for 7 days (refed), or fed ad libitum throughout (controls). Serum LH, FSH, TSH, PRL, and GH levels were measured by radioimmunoassays for each group of rats. The in vivo response to the combination of synthetic LHRH and TRH also was tested in each group of rats. Circulating LH, TSH, GH, and PRL were significantly depressed in acutely and chronically starved rats, and FSH was lowered only in acutely starved rats. After 7 days of refeeding, serum levels of LH and FSH were significantly greater than in ad libitum fed controls, PRL returned to control levels, and TSH and GH increased but were still below control levels. After LHRH + TRH injection serum LH and TSH were increased significantly in all groups of rats, FSH and PRL rose in acutely but not in chronically starved rats, and GH was not elevated in any group. The increases in serum LH, FSH, TSH and prolactin in response to LHRH + TRH injection in acutely or chronically starved rats were equal to or greater than in the ad libitum fed controls. These data indicate that severe reductions in food intake result in decreased release of at least 5 anterior pituitary hormones, and this is due primarily to reduced hypothalamic stimulation rather than to inability of the pituitary to secrete hormones.