Isoproterenol increases and decreases contractile force at low and high concentrations, respectively, through beta(2)-adrenoceptors overexpressed in transgenic mouse heart (TG4), consistent with activation of both G(s) and G(i) proteins. Using TG4 hearts, we demonstrated that epinephrine behaves like isoproterenol, but norepinephrine does not. Epinephrine both increased (-log EC(50)M = 9.4) and decreased (-log EC(50)M = 6.5) left atrial force. Pertussis toxin (PTX) abolished the negative inotropic effects of epinephrine, consistent with mediation through G(i) protein. Norepinephrine only increased contractile force (-log EC(50)M = 7.5). Norepinephrine (10-100 microM) prevented the positive inotropic effects but hardly affected the negative inotropic effects of epinephrine. Cardiodepressive epinephrine concentrations (1-10 microM) antagonized the positive inotropic effects of norepinephrine. In the free wall of TG4 right ventricle, norepinephrine and low epinephrine concentrations caused positive inotropic effects, and high epinephrine concentrations caused PTX-sensitive negative inotropic effects, as observed in the left atrium. Epinephrine (10 nM), a concentration causing maximum increase in contractile force, and norepinephrine (1 and 100 microM) increased cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity in TG4 left ventricle. Cardiodepressive concentrations of epinephrine (1 and 100 microM) did not increase cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity. The inotropic results were simulated with a model of two beta(2)-adrenoceptor sites. For one site involved in receptor coupling to G(s), both epinephrine and norepinephrine compete. The other site, recognized by epinephrine but not by norepinephrine, leads to receptor G(i) coupling.