The possibility that the antihypertensive adrenoceptor antagonists (propranolol, phentolamine and metoprolol) may alter hepatic lipid metabolism was examined in freshly dispersed rat hepatocytes with [1-14C]oleate. Propranolol (1.8 x 10(-4) M) and phentolamine (1.4 x 10(-4) M) increased incorporation of [1-14C]oleate into cholesteryl esters by 51 and 92%, respectively, and decreased ketogenesis by 46 and 62%, respectively. While neither drug affected incorporation into total phospholipid, propranolol decreased triglyceride synthesis by 37%. These effects of propranolol and phentolamine may not occur through beta- or alpha-receptor inhibition since neither epinephrine nor norepinephrine reversed the effects of the adrenoceptor antagonists. Although epinephrine and norepinephrine per se did not alter the incorporation of [1-14C]oleate into triglyceride, phospholipid, cholesteryl esters or ketone bodies, they stimulated the production of 14CO2 (control 5.6 +/- 1.3; epinephrine 7.6 +/- 1.1; norepinephrine 9.1 +/- 0.2 nmol oleate incorporated/mg protein), and these effects were reversed by phentolamine and propranolol. The data suggest that adrenoceptor antagonists exert direct effects on hepatic metabolism of oleate.