Mechanism of adrenergically activated calcium response in freshly isolated brown preadipocytes was studied with fluorescent probe Fura-2. Application of a direct activator of adenylylcyclase forskolin or cell permeable analog BrcAMP caused rise in the intracellular calcium level that was even higher than after the application of norepinephrine. Protein kinase A inhibitor H-89 in a dose-dependent manner reduced, while inhibitor of total phosphodiesterase activity IBMX, or protein phosphatase inhibitor ocadaic acid enhanced norepinephrine or isoproterenol initiated cellular calcium responses. It is concluded that cAMP and protein kinase A mediated phosphorylation play a crucial role in adrenergically initiated calcium signalling in brown preadipocytes.