We showed that the proliferation of F4Z2 cells, established from a rat pituitary tumor, was stimulated by L-triiodothyronine (LT3) in the presence of 3 or 0.1% charcoal treated-fetal calf serum (CT-FCS), and by estradiol (E2) in the presence of 3% CT-FCS only (Cancer Res., 50, 1990, 3786). Here we report on the consequences of the simultaneous addition of these hormones. In the presence of 0.1% CT-FCS, E2, and with a lower potency, estrone and estriol inhibited dose-dependently stimulation by LT3. The results were more complex with 3% CT-FCS: the LT3 effect was blunted by E2 > 0.1 nM (and vice versa) and the hormone effects were additive at lower concentrations. E2, at concentrations antagonistic to the effects of LT3, decreased LT3 binding and LT3 receptor mRNA without modifying the effect of LT3 on these mRNAs. In addition, E2 blocked both the LT3-induced increases of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) secretion and IGF-I mRNA concentration, and the LT3-induced decrease of IGF-binding proteins in conditioned culture medium. We propose that E2 prevents LT3 stimulation of F4Z2 cell proliferation by blunting the LT3-induced accumulation of unbound IGF-I in the culture medium.