We have recently shown that both heterologous and homologous forms of adenylate cyclase desensitization involve phosphorylation of beta-adrenergic receptors. In order to compare these two reactions, we wished to identify a single cell system in which both processes could be studied. Using the frog erythrocyte, which has been previously shown to exhibit cAMP-independent homologous desensitization, we have found that under appropriate conditions cAMP-dependent heterologous desensitization can be elicited. Incubation of intact cells with the membrane-permeable cAMP analogs dibutyryl cAMP or 8-bromo cAMP promotes about a 50% desensitization of isoproterenol- and prostaglandin E1-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in a time-, temperature-, and dose-dependent fashion. There is also a 20% desensitization in the abilities of guanine nucleotides (GTP and guanyl-5'-yl-imidodiphosphate) and NaF to stimulate adenylate cyclase maximally. In contrast, there is no effect on forskolin- or MnCl2-stimulated enzyme activities. The desensitization response is specific for cAMP as dibutyryl cGMP, 8-bromo cGMP, or 8-bromo AMP produce little or no desensitization. Incubation of the cells with dibutyryl cAMP does not affect the number of cell surface beta-adrenergic receptors. In contrast, incubation with isoproterenol promotes homologous desensitization and sequestration of the receptors. Incubation of 32P-labeled erythrocytes with either dibutyryl cAMP or isoproterenol promotes a stoichiometric threefold increase in the phosphorylation state of the beta-adrenergic receptor which occurs predominantly on serine residues. However, if the cells are coincubated with both dibutyryl cAMP and isoproterenol then the desensitization of isoproterenol-stimulated enzyme activity and phosphorylation of the beta-adrenergic receptor are greater than those observed with either agent alone. These results indicate that heterologous and homologous desensitization of adenylate cyclase-coupled beta-adrenergic receptors are mediated by different biochemical pathways involving phosphorylation of the receptor protein on distinct sites.