Platelet-activating factor (PAF) exhibits a wide range of biological activities, including the stimulation of secretory processes in various cell types. However, little is known regarding its possible influence on the release of brain neuropeptides. In the present study we have examined the effect of PAF on the release of three hypothalamic releasing hormones in adult male rats, and have characterized the presence of specific PAF binding sites in rat hypothalamic membranes. PAF decreased LHRH and somatostatin (SRIF) release from the median eminence with a maximal inhibition at 10(-14) M for both neuropeptides, whereas GRF release was not significantly altered. Moreover, PAF strongly counteracted the Ca2+ ionophore A 23187-stimulated release of LHRH and SRIF from median eminence and medial basal hypothalamus (greater than 50% inhibition). These results suggest an involvement of Ca2+ dependent events in PAF action. This inhibitory effect was specifically exerted at a hypothalamic site because PAF failed to depress LH and GH release from the anterior pituitary. A specific, reversible and saturable binding of [3H]PAF to membrane preparations of rat hypothalamus was demonstrated and two classes of binding sites were characterized. The affinity (KD) of each binding class was 2.14 +/- 0.32 nM and 61.63 +/- 16.4 nM, respectively, and the corresponding maximal number of each binding class was 25.41 +/- 3.2 fmol/mg protein and 146.2 +/- 47.5 fmol/mg protein. In the same conditions no specific binding was observed using rat pituitary membranes. The specificity of PAF analogs for these binding sites was well correlated to their relative effectiveness in altering LHRH and SRIF release (order of potency: L-652,731, kadsurenone greater than BN 52021 greater than Lyso-PAF). These data suggest that the binding sites identified in the hypothalamus have the characteristics expected of a specific PAF receptor and that PAF effect on neuropeptides release is a receptor-mediated process.