To assess the influence of fasting of the alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptor activities of human adipocytes, subcutaneous adipose tissue was obtained from normal obese subjects in the fed state and after 3 days of fasting. Isolated cells prepared from the adipose tissue were incubated with epinephrine, 10(-6)M, and in the presence of the alpha-blocker phentolamine, 10(-5)M, and the beta-blocker propranolol, 10(-5)M, respectively; intracellular cyclic AMP levels and glycerol released into the buffer were measured. Consistent with past observations, epinephrine stimulated cyclic AMP and glycerol release when incubated with cells from fed subjects. Phentolamine enhanced this action and propranolol reduced it below the basal level. In contrast, epinephrine suppressed cyclic AMP and lipolysis when incubated with adipocytes from fasted individuals. This reversal in the effect of epinephrine on adipocy.se in alpha-activity. Additional studies suggest that this change in alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptor balance occurred after 1 day of fast and was not significantly exaggerated when fast was prolonged to 8 days. These findings are consistent with the view that in the fasting state the sympathetic nervous system and circulating catecholamines act to conserve adipose tissue triglyceride.