Simultaneous studies on the secretory response of amylase and the neurotransmitter receptors of rat parotid gland, after brief treatment with agonists, showed selective alteration in beta-adrenoceptors with specific change in amylase secretion, suggesting a regulatory role of the receptors in the secretory response. The beta-adrenergic agonist (+/-)-isoprenaline (IPR) stimulated amylase secretion from rat parotid tissues much more than did the same concentration of an alpha-adrenergic or cholinergic agonist. The stimulatory effects of IPR were studied by pre-treating rat parotid tissues with IPR for 10 min and then incubating the tissue in fresh medium for 10 min. Pre-treatment with 10 microM-IPR for 10 min resulted in increased amylase secretion during further incubation with IPR and also in a lower EC50 value of amylase secretion for IPR. This treatment also resulted in selective changes in the number and affinity of beta-adrenoceptors, assessed by measuring binding of [3H]dihydroalprenolol (DHA): the maximal binding sites increased from 286/357 f-mole to mg protein and the IC50 value (the concentration for 50% inhibition of specific [3H]DHA binding) of beta-agonists, not antagonists, decreased significantly. An increase in the period of pre-treatment with IPR to 30 min resulted in a decrease in the maximal binding sites of beta-adrenoceptors and a decrease in amylase secretion during further incubation with IPR. Experiments with other agonists showed that supersensitivity of the secretory response was induced specifically by beta-agonists. Binding studies with [3H]WB-4101 and [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate showed that alpha-adrenoceptors and muscarinic ACh receptors in rat parotid did not change under the conditions tested. The alteration in beta-adrenoceptors was parallel with a change in amylase secretion after IPR pre-treatment, but not with a change in cyclic AMP content.