Adenylate cyclase activity was investigated in myocardial sarcolemma, aorta particulate fractions, and liver plasma membranes from control and 5-day streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The basal adenylate cyclase activity was increased in heart sarcolemma from diabetic rats, whereas the extent of stimulation by glucagon, dopamine, isoproterenol, epinephrine, sodium fluoride and forskolin was decreased markedly. The decreased responsiveness was associated with a decrease in Vmax but not in the activation constant. In contrast, GTP stimulated adenylate cyclase in control and diabetic myocardial sarcolemma to the same extent. In addition, the basal adenylate cyclase activity was not altered significantly in aorta particulate fraction of liver plasma membranes from diabetic rats, but the stimulation of adenylate cyclase by catecholamines and forskolin (in the case of aorta) and by adenosine, glucagon, NaF and forskolin (in the case of liver) was diminished markedly. These data suggest that, in streptozotocin-induced diabetes, the responsiveness of adenylate cyclase to various hormones and agents (fluoride and forskolin) which act through receptor-independent mechanisms is decreased.