The adrenergic control of glucose homeostasis is mediated in part through variations in the release of pancreatic hormones. In this study, purified pancreatic A and B cells were used to identify the recognition and messenger units involved in the adrenergic regulation of glucagon and insulin release. Catecholamines induced beta-adrenergic receptor activity in A cells and alpha 2-adrenergic receptor activity in B cells. The two recognition units provoked opposite variations in the production of cellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate, the beta-adrenergic unit enhancing the nucleotide's permissive effect on amino acid-induced glucagon release and the alpha 2-adrenergic unit inhibiting that upon glucose-induced insulin release. In both cell types, catecholamines interact powerfully with the synergistic control of hormone release by nutrient- and (neuro)hormone-driven messenger systems.