SUMMARY. The properties of adenosine inhibition of catecholamine-induced responses were investigated, using an isolated rat heart preparation. Perfusion of hearts with 0.1 (IM isoproterenol increased myocardial cAMP content 2.8-fold, activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase 4.4-fold, phosphorylase a formation 3.4-fold, left ventricular pressure 1.8-fold, rate of ventricular pressure development 2.1-fold, and rate of ventricular relaxation 2.2-fold within 1 minute. When perfused with the isoproterenol, 10 /IM adenosine reduced the catecholamine-produced increase in cAMP, cAMP-dependent protein kinase, and phosphorylase by 30-40%, and the elevation in left ventricular pressure and rate of ventricular pressure development by 40-70% within 40 seconds. More than 2 minutes were required for the nucleoside to significantly reduce the isoproterenol-elicited increase in the rate of ventricular relaxation. Perfusion of adenosine alone at concentrations from 0.1 to 10 fjM were without effect on the above parameters. Theophylline at 50 [IM had no effect alone on the above parameters but blocked the inhibitory actions of adenosine on the isoproterenol-induced responses. In the presence of 15 mM Mg ++ adenosine reduced by approximately 56% the 2-fold increase in myocardial membrane adenylate cyclase activity produced by 1 fiM isoproterenol without affecting basal or fluoride-stimulated activity. Adenosine also reduced the isoproterenol-induced increase in enzyme activity assayed at 1-2 mM Mg ++ , a level that more closely approximates the intracellular activity of the ion. The results suggest that physiological concentrations of adenosine attenuate the catecholamine-induced increase in cAMP content, cAMP-dependent protein kinase activation, phosphorylase a formation, and contractile parameters in the working heart, via reducing the /?-adrenergic activation of adenylate cyclase. (Circ Res 52:151-160, 1983)