We have investigated the effect of growth hormone (GH) treatment on GH receptor mRNA expression in five prepubertal children with Prader-Willi syndrome and in eight patients with GH deficiency. An adipose tissue needle biopsy was taken before and after 2-4 mo of GH treatment, and RNA was isolated from adipose tissue and from adipocytes. GH receptor mRNA levels were determined by an RNase protection/solution hybridization assay. To further assess the specificity of the assay for GH receptor mRNAs, RNA extracted from human adipose tissue was subjected to Northern blot analysis. GH treatment significantly increased GH receptor mRNA levels in adipose tissue and isolated adipocytes. Our results indicate that GH may have an important role in regulating the GH receptor in humans.