Long-term regulation of the cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase of the C-6 rat glioma cell line has been studied. Both the low K(m) and high K(m) activities can be induced by elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP levels following either dibutyryl cyclic AMP or norepinephrine treatment of the cells. The enzymes are maximally induced by 3-4 hr. The presence of either cycloheximide or actinomycin D prevents induction by either dibutyryl cyclic AMP or norepinephrine. Evidence is presented that the norepinephrine effect is mediated by the beta-catecholamine receptor. The increased phosphodiesterase activity causes a partial refractoriness to a second challenge with norepinephrine, which can be overcome by blockade of the induction with cycloheximide. The results suggest that just as short-term regulation of cyclic AMP levels occurs via changes in the rates of synthesis or degradation, long-term alterations of the system may also involve either the adenylate cyclase or the phosphodiesterase.