Objective To detect the existence of gonadotropinreleasing hormone receptors (GnRH-R) in rat liver,and to supply morphological evidence for studying the functional significance of the GnRH in hepatocyte. Methods Immunohistochemical SABC method and in situ hybridization with a digoxigenin labeled probe were used to study the localization of GnRH-R in the livers of five rats. Results The rat hepatocytes were found with the GnRH-R immunoreactivity and GnRH-R mRNA hybridization signals. The GnRH-R immunoreactive substance was distributed in the cytoplasm of all positive cells, with immunonegative nuclei. The GnRH-R mRNA hybridization signals were also detected in the cytoplasm of all positive cells but not in the nuclei. Hepatocytes in different parts of liver lobules showed different intensity of GnRH-R immunoreactivity and GnRH-R mRNA hybridization signals.Conclusion The rat hepatocyte may express GnRH-R. The hepatocytes in different parts in liver lobules exhibit different