The implantation of the Yoshida AH- 130 ascites hepatoma (a fast growing tumour) to rats resulted in a drarnatic loss of both white adipose tissue and muscle (skeletal and cardiac) mass. Administration of &adrenergic agonists to rumour-hearing rats resulted in a partial recovery of skeletal muscle and heart mass. Treatment of the tumour-bearing animals with the different drugs (salbutamol, salmeterol and clenbuterol) did not influence tumour growth or food intake so it can be suggested that the effects were solely due to metabolic changes. In addition, while the three drugs had clear effects on gastrocnemius muscles, clenbuterol and salbutamol had also an effect on soleus, and salbutamol had a clear effect on cardiac muscle. It is suggested that any of the studied &adrenergic agonists (but perhaps, particularly salmeterol) could be used clinicany in the treatment of cancer cachexia.