The GLUT3 facilitative glucose transporter protein was found to be expressed in rat L6 muscle cells. It was detected at both the myoblast and myotube stage. GLUT3 protein content per mg of total membrane protein increased significantly during L6 cell differentiation. Subcellular fractionation demonstrated that the GLUT3 protein was predominantly localized in plasma membrane-enriched fractions of either myoblasts or myotubes. Short-term exposure of L6 myotubes to IGF-I or insulin caused a redistribution of GLUT3 protein from an intracellular membrane fraction to the plasma membrane, without affecting total membrane GLUT3 protein content. Long-term exposure of L6 myotubes to IGF-I produced an increase of GLUT3 protein in total membranes and all subcellular membrane fractions, especially the plasma membrane. We propose that the GLUT3 glucose transporter may play an important role in glucose metabolism in developing muscle.