We have demonstrated that anterior pituitary corticotropes can be identified cytochemically by their capacity to bind potent biotinylated analogs of CRH. In addition, 50-80% of corticotropes bind biotinylated arginine vasopressin (AVP). The percentage of CRH-bound cells is rapidly reduced after 1-h exposure to glucocorticoids. However, the rapid effects of glucocorticoids on AVP binding by corticotropes have not been tested. The first aim of this study was to examine the binding capacity of small and large corticotropes enriched to 90% by counterflow centrifugation. Biotinylated analogs of CRH or AVP were detected cytochemically on the cells by avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex protocols. At least 80% of the cells bound CRH after 1 day of culture. More large corticotropes bound AVP (93%) than small corticotropes (80%). AVP pretreatment of large corticotropes stimulated an increase in CRH-bound cells to over 90%, but it had no effect on CRH binding by small corticotropes. Corticosterone pretreatment (100 nM) for 10 min caused a 50% reduction in the percentage of cells that bound CRH and in the levels of ACTH released in response to biotinylated CRH. After 30 and 60 min of pretreatment, the percentages of CRH-bound cells were reduced by 75%, and ACTH levels remained low. No reduction in percentages of AVP-bound cells was evident at any time point after corticosterone pretreatment. These studies stimulated further tests based on previous reports that showed that AVP or its activated second messengers enhanced CRH binding. We reasoned that this potentiation might promote a recovery in CRH binding to corticosterone-inhibited cells. However, 1-h stimulation by AVP or activation of calcium channels (by Bay K 8644) or protein kinase-C by 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate did not restore CRH binding. AVP evoked a partial recovery in ACTH release. Furthermore, Bay K and 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate pretreatment effectively blocked the fast feedback effects of corticosterone on CRH-mediated ACTH release. Thus, these studies demonstrate that glucocorticoids rapidly inhibit CRH-receptor binding in a domain that is not affected by AVP potentiation of ACTH release. Perhaps they immobilize transport processes needed to bring unoccupied CRH receptors to the surface for binding and cytochemical detection.