The ontogenesis of melatonin receptors in the anterior pituitary and pars tuberalis of the Golden hamster was studied using [125l]iodomelatonin as a ligand. The affinity of the binding site to the ligand (K<j) was in the range 21 to 54 pM and it did not change significantly during development. The concentration of the [125lliodomelatonin binding sites in the anterior pituitary was highest in one-day-old hamsters (Bmax=14 fmol/mg protein) and thereafter gradually decreased. In adults it reached to about 6 % of the neonatal values. In contrast, the concentration of the binding sites in pars tuberalis did not change significantly during ontogenesis and it was in the range of 3 to 5 fmol/mg protein.