Prolonged infusion of the beta 2-adrenergic agonist, ritodrine, into sheep during late pregnancy decreased maternal plasma K+ from 3.6 to 2.5 mmol l-1 during the first 6-8 h of infusion, as it does during tocolysis in women. This decrease was not accompanied by significant change in fetal plasma K+ concentration. Ritodrine infusion (1-3.5 micrograms kg-1 min-1) directly into the fetus also did not decrease fetal plasma K+ significantly. In contrast, insulin (2.5 mU kg-1 min-1), infused together with glucose (3.6 mg kg-1 min-1) directly into the fetus decreased fetal plasma K+ concentration by 0.8 mmol l-1 within 1 h. The results suggest immaturity in beta 2-adrenergic receptor regulation of electrogenic K+ uptake by muscle in fetal lambs.