Eight donor hearts and six explanted hearts due to dilated cardiomyopathy, normal skeletal muscle and liver were analysed. Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and thyroid hormone receptor (T3R) isoforms beta 1, beta 2, alpha 1 and alpha 2 mRNA abundance were determined by solution hybridization. Both GR and T3R receptor mRNA isoforms were lower in the myocardium as compared to skeletal muscle and in particular to liver. GR mRNA abundance was higher than that of any T3R isoform while the sum of ligand-binding isoforms (beta 1, beta 2 and alpha 1) were similar in the myocardium and in skeletal muscle as opposed to the liver where GR mRNA was higher. GR mRNA abundance was similar in right and left ventricles from donor hearts and in cardiomyopathy. T3R beta 1 showed higher levels in the right ventricle with higher levels in cardiomyopathy as compared to donor heart. T3R isoform alpha 1 and especially the alpha 1/alpha 2 ratio were lower in left ventricle in cardiomyopathy compared to donor hearts. In conclusion, GR and T3R isoforms mRNA abundance are low in the human myocardium. In the failing myocardium GR and T3R beta 2 and alpha 2 show no signs of reactivity while T3R beta 1 and alpha 1 mRNA adapt.