We recently reported the existence of two separate pathways for thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-induced mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activation in GH3 pituitary tumor cells. To test the role of MAP kinase in TRH action, we examined the effect of dopamine (DA) on TRH-induced MAP kinase in primary cultures of rat anterior pituitary cells. 1 microM of DA attenuated 1 microM TRH-induced MAP kinase activity and phosphorylation. 100 ng/ml of islet-activating protein (IAP) blocked these inhibitory effects of DA. These results suggest that crosstalk exists between the DA signaling pathway and the TRH-stimulated MAP kinase activating pathway in rat anterior pituitary cells.