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Adrenergic regulation of RNA synthesis by in vivo stimulated parotid glands and dispersed parotid lobules was studied by a combination of in vivo and in vitro methods. Following a single intraperitoneal injection of isoproterenol, [ 3 H]uridine incorporation into RNA was increased by 50% after the first hour. Amylase mRNA content was also elevated within 1 hr and was 2–3-fold higher than control values at 4 hr. An increase in the rate of total protein synthesis was detectable after 2 hr, and maximal rates were achieved 6 hr after isoproterenol administration. In dispersed parotid lobules, both isoproterenol and epinephrine stimulated [ 3 H]uridine incorporation and at optimal concentrations increased incorporation by almost 200%. Phenylephrine (10 μM) caused a slight increase of about 20% whereas methoxamine (10 μM) had no effect. Stimulation by epinephrine was reversed by propranolol, but not by either phentolamine or prazosin. The increase in RNA synthesis induced by isoproterenol or epinephrine was dose dependent and half-maximal stimulation required 5.0 × 10 −8 M isoproterenol and 7.9 × 10 −7 M epinephrine. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP also stimulated [ 3 H]uridine incorporation, whereas 8-bromo cyclic GMP, A23187 and phorbol myristate acetate had no effect. The importance of protein phosphorylation in mediating the observed stimulation was evaluated using protein kinase and phosphatase inhibitors. N -[2-(Methylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulphonamide, an inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinases, substantially diminished the isoproterenol-induced stimulation. Okadaic acid treatment of lobules increased [ 3 H]uridine incorporation. Furthermore, okadaic acid synergistically potentiated the stimulatory effect of a suboptimal concentration of isoproterenol. The results demonstrate that activation of the β-adrenergic receptor induces the synthesis of certain RNA species in the parotid gland and that protein phosphorylation by a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase is a key event in the signal transduction pathway.