The possible modification of the in vitro lipolytic action of rat growth hormone (rGH) or a mixed beta-adrenergic agonist (metaproterenol) on rat adipose tissue after a previous acute treatment with these compounds was assessed by measuring glycerol release from adipocytes. The involvement of adenosine deaminase (ADA) and dexamethasone, was also considered. The results showed that the previous acute treatment with rGH or the beta-adrenergic agonist did not alter the in vitro rGH or metaproterenol lipolytic response. The presence of ADA at a non-lipolytic concentration per se (0.02 U/ml) potentiated the lipolytic response of both compounds. Also, the addition of non-lipolytic concentrations of dexamethasone (0.5 microM) or beta-adrenergic agonist (10(-7)M) to the incubation medium potentiated the rGH lipolytic response, while the metaproterenol-induced glycerol release was not affected by the simultaneous addition of a rGH concentration (2 x 10(-7) M) which had no lipolytic effect per se.