The inhibition of insulin-stimulated glucose transport by isoprenaline, a mixed beta-adrenergic-receptor (AR) agonist, is well documented in rat adipocytes. Since it has been described that rat adipocytes possess not only beta 1- and beta 2- but also beta 3-ARs, the influence of various subtype-selective beta-AR agonists and antagonists on 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) transport was assessed in order to characterize the beta-AR subtype involved in the adrenergic counter-regulation of the insulin effect. The stimulation of 2-DG transport by insulin was counteracted, in a dose-dependent manner, by all the beta-AR agonists tested, and the magnitude of the inhibition followed the rank order: BRL 37344 > isoprenaline = noradrenaline >> dobutamine = procaterol. The same rank order of potency was obtained for lipolysis activation. This is not in accordance with the pharmacological definition of a beta 1- or a beta 2-adrenergic effect, but agrees with the pharmacological pattern of a beta 3-adrenergic effect. The inhibitory effect of the beta 3-agonist BRL 37344 on insulin-stimulated 2-DG transport was not reversed by either the selective beta 1-antagonist ICI 89406 or the beta 2-antagonist ICI 118551. In addition, neither of these beta-antagonists was able to block the isoprenaline and noradrenaline effects, supporting major beta 3-adrenoceptor-subtype involvement in the adrenergic inhibition of insulin-stimulated 2-DG transport. Like isoprenaline, BRL 37344 inhibited (60% inhibition) insulin-stimulated glucose transport only when adenosine deaminase was present in the assay. Furthermore, the maximal inhibitory effects of isoprenaline and BRL 37344 were not additive, and were both dependent on albumin concentration in the incubation medium: they increased when the albumin concentration decreased in the medium from 3.5 to 1%. To conclude, the similarities between isoprenaline and BRL 37344 action on insulin-stimulated 2-DG transport, the poor efficacy of the beta 1-/beta 2-agonists and the lack of effect of selective beta 1- and beta 2-antagonists are compelling arguments to support the important role of beta 3-adrenoceptors in the adrenergic inhibition of glucose transport in rat adipocytes.