Lipoprotein lipase activity was studied in mesenchymal cells isolated from rat hearts and cultured for up to 8 days. The enzyme activity increased markedly between day 3 and 5 while the subsequent increase was less pronounced. Addition of hydrocortisone to complete culture medium resulted in an increase in lipoprotein lipase activity at all stages of culture. Lipoprotein lipase activity did not increase after addition of insulin to the complete culture medium. In the presence of serum-poor medium between day 3 and 6, the increase in lipoprotein lipase activity was much lower than in the presence of complete culture medium. Addition of hydrocortisone and insulin to the serum-poor medium resulted in a significant rise in lipoprotein lipase activity while less consistent effects were obtained after addition of each hormone alone. Transfer of cells to serum-poor medium between day 6 and 7 of culture caused a fall in enzyme activity. Addition of hydrocortisone alone and with insulin restored enzyme activity to control values. No effect on lipoprotein lipase was seen with estradiol, growth hormone, or glucagon when added to serum-containing medium, or serum-poor medium. These results indicate that the lipoprotein lipase of heart is controlled by glucocorticoids and that this control might require the presence of insulin for optimal expression.