Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay demonstrates that the 9-cis retinoic acid receptor alpha is expressed in human osteoblasts. The 9-cis retinoic acid receptor (RXR) alpha, a co-regulator of the thyroid hormone and vitamin D receptors, has previously been shown to be expressed predominantly in metabolic organs such as the liver and the kidney. In this study we have used a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to examine the expression of retinoic acid (RA) nuclear receptors in primary human osteoblasts and in SaOS-2, a human osteosarcoma-derived cell line with osteoblastic characteristics. Our results demonstrate that human osteoblasts express RXR alpha, as well as the all-trans RA receptors (RAR) alpha, beta, and gamma. These data further establish bone as a major target for retinoids and suggest that RA can regulate vitamin D and thyroid hormone actions in osteoblasts.