Intra-abdominal obesity is associated with cardiovascular disease and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and physical training has been suggested to alleviate these conditions. We compared epinephrine-stimulated lipolysis in vivo in three intra-abdominal adipose tissues (ATs: retroperitoneal, parametrial, and mesenteric) and in subcutaneous AT, and we also studied the effect of physical training. Moreover, we studied the effect of physical training on epinephrine-stimulated lipolysis in muscle in vivo. Female rats were either swim trained (15 wk, n = 8) or sedentary (n = 7). Under anesthesia, a two-stage intravenous epinephrine infusion (60 min of 80 and 200 ng. kg(-1). min(-1), respectively) was carried out, and local interstitial glycerol concentration was measured by the microdialysis technique. Blood flow was measured by microspheres. Training increased blood flow in all ATs [on average: 73 +/- 12 (trained) vs. 14 +/- 4 (sedentary) ml. 100 g(-1). min(-1), P < 0. 05]; nevertheless, epinephrine-stimulated interstitial glycerol concentrations were increased or unchanged. Interstitial glycerol concentration was higher in intra-abdominal than in subcutaneous AT in both trained and sedentary rats. In skeletal muscle, interstitial glycerol concentration and blood flow did not differ between trained and sedentary rats. In conclusion, in vivo lipolysis is higher both in the basal state and during epinephrine-stimulation in intra-abdominal than in subcutaneous AT, and training may be beneficial in alleviating intra-abdominal obesity by enhancing lipolysis in intra-abdominal fat depots.