Modification of cardiac beta-adrenergic receptors (beta-AR), resulting from the stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, is one of the most important factors in the generation of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. In this research, we propose the utilization of adipocytes as an alternative to the use of predominantly beta 2-AR subtype containing circulating lymphocytes for the convenient assessment of cardiac failure in the experimentally, volume-overload induced heart hypertrophy in rats. Using this model, we measured beta-AR both in the heart and adipocytes of male rats 2, 7, 21 and 56 days after creating an aorta-cava fistula. Whereas an increase (58%) in cardiac beta-AR density from day 7 to 21 was followed by a decrease in this measurement (30%) on day 56 [changes expressed as percentage of controls; no significant changes in beta-AR affinity (Kd) were recorded at any of the time interval studied], adipocytes beta-AR density showed a progressive increase starting on day 21 (87%) which continued until the end (131%) of the study period. This lack of correlation of the beta-AR population in both tissues supports the need for a specific evaluation of the beta 1-AR subtype in the heart and adipocyte in order to evaluate the usefulness of adipocyte cells as an alternative to assess cardiac failure.