It is well established that beta-adrenoceptors (beta-ARs) in the hippocampal CA1 region are involved in regulating synaptic plasticity and are essential for acquisition and consolidation of spatial memory and contextual fear memory. Previous studies reported that beta-ARs in the CA1 region are also involved in memory retrieval. The present study re-examined the role of hippocampal beta-ARs in retrieval of conditioned contextual fear. We bilaterally infused a high dose of the beta-AR antagonist propranolol (15 mu g in 1 mu l saline) into the CA1 region 30 min before retention test and found that propranolol produced no deficit in retrieval of either 1-day or 7-day contextual fear. We then examined if beta-AR stimulation would produce a beneficial effect. The beta-AR agonist isoproterenol (10 mu g in 1 mu l saline) was infused into the CA1 region 30 min before retention test. Surprisingly, isoproterenol did not enhance but severely disrupted retrieval of 7-day contextual fear memory, with no impact on retrieval of I-day contextual fear memory. The present study argues against the previous conclusion that beta-ARs in the CA1 region play a role in memory retrieval. beta-ARs in the CA1 region may be dispensable for retrieval of conditioned contextual fear. (c) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.