ABSTRACT. During prolonged administration of @-agonists such as ritodrine directly to chronically cannulated fetal lambs, the cardiovascular, metabolic, and endocrine changes observed during the 1st day of administration, lessen and return to normal within 3-4 d despite continuing drug administration. In our investigation, heart rate, plasma FFA, lactate, glucose, and insulin concentrations all increased significantly during the 1st day of ritodrine infusion (10 wg/min), whereas blood Poz and base excess were significantly decreased. After 3 d, despite continued drug infusion, all these changes had ameliorated. To examine the hypothesis that this tachyphylaxis to ritodrine also results in decreased sensitivity to endogenous catecholamines, epinephrine (1 pg/min i.v. for 60 min, then 2 pg/min i.v. for a further 60 min) was infused into fetal lambs (124-130 d gestation) 1 d before, then 5 f 1 d after, and again 10 f 1 d after beginning ritodrine infusion. Before ritodrine administration, epinephrine significantly increased plasma FFA, lactate, glucose, and glucagon concentrations and decreased insulin. However, after ritodrine treatment for either 5 +. 1 or 10 f 1 d, epinephrine resulted in no significant increases in FFA or glucagon, and those in lactate and glucose were significantly reduced. Decreases in insulin during epinephrine administration were unchanged by ritodrine. Initial responses of mean arterial pressure and heart rate to epinephrine were significantly greater during prolonged ritodrine treatment. Fetal responses to epinephrine mediated through @-adrenergic receDtor mechanisms were clearlv decreased when administration of @-agonists was prolonged beyond 24 h. (Pediatr Res 28: 388-393,1990) typical of prolonged stimulation of P-adrenergic receptor mechanisms. Hyperglycemia, hyperlactacidemia, and hyperinsulinemia occur and acid-base balance is severely taxed during the 1st 48-72 h of infusion. Further, Warburton et al. (7) have observed that the hyperglycemia is associated with substantial depletion of hepatic glycogen reserves after 24 h administration. Also, both we (6) and Warburton et al. (8) have shown that administration of ritodrine for 24 h or longer results in the development of marked hypoxemia at least as severe as that seen in fetal lambs during prolonged hyperglycemia and/or hyperinsulinemia (9, 10). After administration of the drug for more than 48 h, these changes moderate (6). It appears that it is only the development of tachyphylaxis to the drug that permits the restoration of homeostasis during more prolonged administration. Indeed, Warburton et al. (1 1, 12) have shown that there is already a very marked reduction in the P-adrenergic receptor population of fetal lung tissue after 24 h of ritodrine administration. More widespread changes in sensitivity of P-adrenergic receptor mechanisms have not been investigated.Although this reduction in sensitivity may permit fetal survival in the face of prolonged ritodrine treatment, we questioned whether it might have other less desira...