Human pancreatic tumor GH-releasing factor-40 (hpGRF-40) selectively stimulates GH secretion in normal men and in some adults with GH deficiency. To study its effects in women, we administered hpGRF-40 (3.33 micrograms/kg) or an equivalent volume of vehicle as an iv bolus at 0900 h to 10 normal women during the early follicular, late follicular, and midluteal phases of the menstrual cycle. Serum concentrations of GH, PRL, LH, and FSH were measured at intervals between 0800-1100 h. Serum somatomedin-C concentrations were measured before and 24 h after the administration of vehicle of hpGRF-40. Within 1-3 min after the injection of hpGRF-40 all women described warmth localized to the head and neck and exhibited facial flushing. No changes in pulse rate or blood pressure were noted. When expressed as change from baseline and compared to control values, peak levels of serum GH (nanograms per ml; mean +/- SEM) were higher after hpGRF-40 treatment during the early follicular (5.4 +/- 3.2 vs. 34.9 +/- 8.3; control vs. test day; P = 0.011), late follicular (5.6 +/- 1.5 vs. 25.2 +/- 6.8; P = 0.014), and luteal (0.8 +/- 1.0 vs. 32.7 +/- 12.8; P = 0.033) phases of the menstrual cycle. Similarly, integrated serum GH levels (nanograms per ml/h) were higher after hpGRF-40 administration during the early follicular (0.72 vs. 16.1; P = 0.011), late follicular (0.83 vs. 9.9; P = 0.037), and luteal (-1.54 vs. 17.0; P = 0.036) phases of the cycle. When the increases in serum GH after hpGRF-40 treatment were compared among the phases of the menstrual cycle, however, no differences were found. Serum somatomedin-C values 24 h after hpGRF-40 treatment were higher than those 24 h after vehicle at all stages of the menstrual cycle. hpGRF-40 did not stimulate the release of PRL, LH, or FSH. We conclude that hpGRF-40 stimulates the release of GH, but that in response to the dose used, hpGRF-40-stimulated GH release does not vary during the menstrual cycle.