We used 31P-NMR spectroscopy to investigate the response of living C6 glioma cells to stimulation by a /I-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol. In the presence of 3-isobutyl-l-methylxanthine, stimulation induced an accumulation of CAMP, making possible the NMR detection of the second messenger in living cells grown on microcarrier beads and perfused in the NMR tube. The cAMP signal rose to a maximum level within 20 -25 min of stimulation; thereafter it decreased to the detection threshold within 60 min. At the same time, 40% increases of phosphomonoester and diphosphodiester signals were observed, whereas no significant change in phosphocreatine and nucleotide signals was detected. The kinetics of changes of the cellular content in phosphorylated metabolites were analyzed after recording 31P-NMR spectra of cell perchloric acid extracts as a function of time of stimulation. CAMP accumulation in stimulated cells was evidenced by a near linear increase of its NMR signal as a function of incubation time (from 0 to 60 rnin). Concomitantly with the production of CAMP, the data showed 30% decreases ofphosphocrcatine and ATP levels within 60 min of stimulation, and an unexpected redistribution of pyrimidine and purine nucleoside triphosphates. At the same time, levels of phosphomonoesters (phosphorylcholine and phosphorylethanolamine) and phosphodiesters (glycerophosphorylcholine and glycerophosphorylethanolamine) rose (50% increase).3C-NMR spectra of cell perchloric acid extracts prepared after isoproterenol stimulation of cells incubated in the presence of [I-' 3C]glucose indicated a higher glucose content in stimulated cells, whereas the resonance of ribose C1 was diminished. Moreover, the resonances of C1 of ethanolamine and choline (and their derivatives) were increased in spectra of stimulated cells, whereas that of C3 of serine was decreased. In addition, the 13C-NMR data indicated that neither the pattern of glutamale carbon enrichment nor the glutamate/glutamine ratio was modified in stimulated cells. On the other hand, the heteronuclear coupling pattern of the lactate (methyl group) resonance in 'H-NMR spectra of cell incubation media indicated that no change occurred in the carbon flux through the pentosephosphate shunt under stimulation. The results of this multinuclear NMR approach are discussed in terms of metabolic responses of C6 cells to P-adrenergic stimulation and cAMP overproduction.In hormone and neurotransmitter action on metabolic pathways, short-and long-term effects are to be differentiated, both of which are nowadays explorcd at the molecular level. The latter arc recognized to occur a few hours after stimulation and generally correspond to the modification of the gene transcription of key enzymes of the considered pathway (Nimmo and Cohen, 1987); they are studied at both the mRNA and the protein level. Thc former imply metabolic modifications induced by changes occurring, firstly, at the plasma membrane level or in its close vicinity (changes in intracellular second messenger or critical cation c...