Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) increases cAMP production and stimulates hormone release from a variety of anterior pituitary cells. However, in anterior pituitary gonadotrophs PACAP stimulates oscillations in cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) that appear to be independent of cAMP. To study the mechanisms involved in this response, we used the patch-clamp technique to microperfuse various agents into single rat gonadotrophs while monitoring [Ca2+]i with microfluorometry. Extracellular application of PACAP to single gonadotrophs stimulated high amplitude (> 1 microM) oscillations in [Ca2+]i, which were blocked by intracellular application of GDP beta S (guanosine 5'-O-2-thiodiphosphate), indicating the involvement of a G-protein. To identify the intracellular messenger(s) involved, we microperfused gonadotrophs with cAMP, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3), or heparin, an antagonist of the Ins(1,4,5)P3 receptor. A high concentration of cAMP (100 microM) had no significant effect on basal [Ca2+]i and did not alter the PACAP-stimulated Ca2+ response. Heparin, but not its inactive isoform, completely blocked the PACAP-stimulated increase in [Ca2+]i, while Ins(1,4,5)P3 stimulated oscillations in [Ca2+]i very similar to those observed in response to PACAP. These results strongly suggest that PACAP mobilizes Ca2+ through an Ins(1,4,5)P3-dependent mechanism. The fact that PACAP stimulates two signaling pathways in pituitary cells could substantially enhance the signaling potential of this hypothalamic peptide.