Pituitary specific retinoid-X receptor ligand interactions with thyroid hormone receptor signaling revealed by high throughput reporter and endogenous gene responses

•Retinoids and RXR (but not RAR) agonists activate TR luciferase reporter cells.•RXR antagonists abrogate retinoid and RXR agonist induced luciferase activity.•RXR antagonists inhibit thyroid hormone induced luciferase activity.•Endogenous TR target genes are activated by the RXR agonists and natural retinoids.•Permissive RXR–TR heterodimers may be cell specific endocrine disruptor targets.