The alpha-adrenergic antagonists phentolamine and prazosin were administered to male rats to explore their effects on cold-induced TRH release, measured by a chronic push-pull cannula stereotaxically implanted in the median eminence (ME). Phentolamine was given either i.p. (24 or 40 mg/kg), or locally (10(-5) M) in the ME, whereas prazosin was only applied locally (10(-5) M). Phentolamine significantly decreased the cold response (5 +/- 1 pg/15 min vs 21 +/- 5 pg/15 min; P less than 0.02), whatever the administration mode. Moreover, the blocking effect of prazosin directly perfused into the ME (11 +/- 3 pg/15 min vs 26 +/- 9 pg/15 min; P less than 0.05), indicates the specific involvement of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors in the cold-induced TRH response, and points to the ME as a possible site of facilitatory adrenergic control.