Several serine/threonine and tyrosine kinase signal transduction pathways have been recently linked to prolactin (PRL) action in lymphoid cells. Utilizing the lactogen-dependent, rat pre-T lymphoma cell line, Nb2-11, and the autonomous subline, Nb2-SFJCD1, studies were conducted to determine whether PRL- or interleukin-2 (IL-2)-stimulated Nb2 cell proliferation is coupled to the activation of p21ras and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. Stimulation of Nb2-11 cells, growth-arrested in the early G1 phase of the cell cycle, with PRL or IL-2 rapidly (5-10 min) provoked GTP binding to Ras, enhanced tyrosyl phosphorylation of MAP kinase, significantly increased its enzymatic activity, and caused its nuclear translocation. The phorbol ester, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), which directly activates protein kinase C, similarly activated Ras and MAP kinase but failed to cause its nuclear translocation. Tyrosine kinase antagonism with genistein inhibited PRL-stimulated Ras and MAP kinase activation. In other experiments, Ras and MAP kinase were each found to be constitutively active in the Nb2-SFJCD1 line. The addition of PRL to these cultures enhanced the activity of these signaling proteins. Finally, the effects of PRL, IL-2, TPA, and phosphatase inhibition on Nb2-11 cell population density and [3H]thymidine uptake were compared. The addition of PRL, IL-2, and TPA significantly stimulated[3H] thymidine incorporation, while only the polypeptide growth factors augmented cell density. Phosphatase inhibition had no effect on either parameter. These results indicate that Nb2 cell proliferation is associated with the early activation of Ras and MAP kinase. Moreover, tyrosyl phosphorylation upstream of Ras activation appears to be required for its subsequent stimulation of mediators, which activate MAP kinase. Protein kinase C activation may be coupled to MAP kinase activation but is not sufficient for Nb2 cell proliferation.