The growth hormone (GH) receptor gene is characterized by heterogeneity in the 5′-untranslated region (UTR). The technique of 5′-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) was employed to identify potentially novel 5′-UTRs for the GH receptor gene. One of the RACE clones displayed sequence homology to the human V5-UTR; hence this transcript was designated as L5. Sequence analysis of genomic DNA established that L5 was immediately upstream of exon 2. Northern blot analysis indicated that two bands of sizes ≅4.8 kb, corresponding to GH receptor mRNA, and ≅1.5 kb corresponding to GH binding protein mRNA, were detectable in liver, skeletal muscle, kidney and heart but not in brain, spleen, lung or testis. Fluorescent 5′-nuclease real-time RT-PCR based analysis indicated that in the placenta and fetal liver, the L5 transcript represented 10–15% of the GH receptor transcripts. In the adult liver, heart and kidney, the L5 transcript is less abundant accounting for 1–5% of the total GH receptor transcripts. Primer extension and ribonuclease protection assays were performed to identify the major transcription start site at 778 bp from the ATG codon. Transient transfection experiments revealed that the 5′-flanking sequence had promoter activity in rat placental trophoblast (HRP.1), Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and mouse liver (BNL CL.2) cells. Analysis of expression of the L5 transcript in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse, a model of spontaneous autoimmune diabetes, indicated that the expression of the L5 transcript was decreased in liver and kidney by 80–90 and 40–50%, respectively, but expression remained unchanged in the heart.