The effect of lactation on stress-induced hormone responses and changes in hypothalamic mRNA was assessed in female rats. In control animals the stimulus of ip hypertonic saline resulted in increased plasma levels of corticosterone, oxytocin, and vasopressin and hypothalamic content of CRF and enkephalin mRNA. In lactating females, however, the corticosterone response to this stress failed to reach significance, the plasma oxytocin response was markedly reduced, and the vasopressin response was unaffected. Lactation also resulted in an abolition of the CRF and enkephalin mRNA responses to stress. In contrast, the hypothalamic CRF response to adrenalectomy was unaffected by lactation status. Removal of the pups from their mothers resulted in a return of CRF and enkephalin mRNA responses to stress within 2 days. Lactation is associated with a selective inhibition of normal hypothalamic stress responses.