The objectives of this study were to determine whether pre-release transformation (depletion) of pituitary prolactin occurs as the result of suckling to the same extent in several strains of lactating rats, the molecular nature of the transformed hormone, whether the quantity of transformed (depleted) prolactin recovered is dependent upon the type of homogenization buffer used and whether the method of assay influences the extent to which transformed prolactin is detected. During the course of these experiments other factors such as the methods of handling and storing pituitaries and homogenates were also found to influence the amount of prolactin recovered. The results indicated that transformation of prolactin is a very labile event which is affected by many factors. Strain and supplier of rats was critical to the observation of suckling-induced depletion of prolactin, with Spartan- and Holtzman-derived Sprague-Dawley strains exhibiting the most consistent responses. When transformation was observed, it mattered little which buffer was used for homogenization; however, alkaline or acidic buffers extracted more prolactin than did neutral buffers. Triton X-100 also significantly enhanced the efficiency of extraction by neutral buffers. Maintaining pituitaries on dry ice immediately upon removal from the animal increased the amount of prolactin recovered, as did freezing the homogenate for 1-5 weeks before assay. The addition of the protease inhibitor, benzamidine hydrochloride, did not affect the pituitary content of prolactin. Assay of prolactin by polyacrylamide electrophoresis and densitometry yielded more prolactin than either radioimmunoassay or the Nb2 lymphoma bioassay. The molecular nature of pituitary prolactin, extracted at neutral pH, as judged by gel filtration was altered slightly but consistently by suckling, such that large molecular forms increased at the expense of the smallest molecular form. We conclude from these studies that great care must be exercised when attempting to characterize dynamic changes in pituitary prolactin content in lactating rats. Strain and supplier of rats, methods of handling and storing pituitaries, types of buffers used for homogenization and methods of assay all influence the amount of prolactin recovered and can influence the extent to which rapid changes in pituitary prolactin are detected.