Analysis of the slow Ca(2+)-responses of brown preadipocytes of ground squirrel Spermophillus undulatus and mouse was carried out. The mouse brown preadipocytes demonstrated low but prominent responses to noradrenalin with the maximum at 3 and 10 microM being the less effective. The ground squirrel brown preadipocytes practically did not practically respond to 10 nM-10 microM, whereas 30-600 microM noradrenalin was able to raise intracellular [Ca2+]i up to 600 nM with 300 microM agonist being the most effective. Stimulation of the plasma membrane Ca(2+)-channels with thimerosal showed considerable reduction of the calcium entry system in the cell precursors of both species comparing with their mature adipocytes. Intracellular calcium stores liberated in preadipocytes of both species by tapsigargin and ionomycin in Ca(2+)-free medium were insignificant, and capacitative Ca(2+)-entry in response to the cellular Ca(2+)-stores depletion was completely absent in Ca(2+)-containing medium. The Ca(2+)-responses of the ground squirrel brown preadipocytes were independent on physiological state of the animals and annual seasons. Preadipocytes of both species showed the same dose-response curves for the Ca(2+)-raise under thimerosal, and the mouse had two-fold higher kinetic constants for the Ca2+ ions entry. The ground squirrel brown adipocytes responded to ionomycin with approximately 25% higher increase in [Ca2+]i and the entry of the ions had 7-10-fold higher kinetic constants for this process. Kinetic constants for the [Ca2+]i raise in mouse preadipocytes were independent of ionomycin concentration, whereas in the ground squirrel brown preadipocytes the constant linearly increased with the ionophore concentration. It is suggested that the found difference in the function of Ca(2+)-signalling in preadipocytes of two species, which becomes apparent in the presence of ionomycin, might be responsible for the observed difference in the noradrenalin induced cellular Ca(2+)-responses as well.