Plasma growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) was measured by radioimmunoassay in the cord blood from 32 healthy human newborns after 38–41 weeks of gestation. All were born by uncomplicated vaginal delivery. The GHRH levels in cord blood were 78.33 ± 8.35 pg/ml at 40 weeks of gestation, approximately threefold higher than the levels at 38 weeks of gestation (27.00 ± 2.55 pg/ml). No significant differences were found between girls and boys. The rise of plasma GHRH levels in cord blood of the full-term newborns between 38 and 40 weeks of gestation suggests a role of this peptide in the neonatal growth regulation.