Calcium-mobilizing receptors appear to induce calcium movements from both intracellular and extracellular sites.' The mechanism of the Ca2+ influx component remains enigmatic, being probably independent from voltage-sensitive Caz+ channels because it occurs in both excitable and nonexcitable cell types. Several hypotheses for the mechanism have been proposed, including actions of inositol tetrakis-and tris-phosphates, Ca2+-activated Ca2+ channels, and the Na+ /Ca2+One further possibility is that the concomitant activation of protein kinase C (PKC) by such receptors may have a role in signaling Ca2+ influx.Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone ( LHRH) and thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH) both act through this class of receptor, causing calcium mobilization and phosphoinositide hydrolysis. The Ca-influx processes activated by these hormone receptors in anterior pituitary tissue can be measured by a rapid "Ca2+ influx assay, involving quenching, filtration, and washing with EGTA-containing medium.' The 4sCa2+ influx induced by LHRH, TRH, or K + was maximal by 30 seconds and was concentration dependent, with peak increases over basal "Ca2+ accumulation of 83 2 8% (100 nM LHRH), 162 * 14% (300 nM TRH), and 232 2 30% (60 mM