An assay for the binding of [(3)H]thyrotropin-releasing hormone ([(3)H]TRH) is described. Plasma membranes isolated from bovine anterior pituitary gland bind about 600 femtomoles of this hormone per mg of protein, as compared to 15 femtomoles per mg of protein in the total adenohypophyseal homogenate (40-fold purification). The equilibrium constant of membrane receptor-[(3)H]TRH binding at 0 degrees C is 4.3 x 10(7) L.M(-1), or a half-maximal binding of this hormone at 23 nM. The binding is time-dependent; addition of unlabeled hormone induces dissociation of the receptor-[(3)H]TRH complex with a half-life of 14 min. The binding of TRH is not altered by 10 muM melanocyte-stimulating hormone-release inhibiting hormone, lysine-vasopressin, adrenocorticotropin, growth hormone, prolactin, luteinizing hormone, insulin, glucagon, L-thyroxine, or L-triiodothyronine. K(+) and Mg(++) increase formation of the receptor-TRH complex at optimal concentrations of 5-25 mM and 0.5-2.5 mM, respectively, with inhibition at higher concentrations. Ca(++) inhibits binding of TRH at all concentrations tested.