The effects and respective influence of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) on cyclic AMP (cAMP) production in pituitary gonadotropes were analyzed using the LbetaT2 cell line. Both hormones induced cAMP with, however, different intensity and time course. In addition, the GnRH effect was markedly reduced by PKC inhibitors. Despite its positive coupling to cAMP pathway, GnRH counteracted PACAP induction of cAMP and this effect was mimicked by the PKC activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). The data reveal major differences in the mechanisms by which PACAP and GnRH activate cAMP/PKA pathway in LbetaT2 cells and suggest that PKC activation serves GnRH not only to increase cAMP but also to counteract the PACAP stimulation of this signaling pathway.