Addition of micromolar concentrations of extracellular ATP to adult rat cardiac ventricular myocytes increases cytosolic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]). Experiments were performed on fura-2-loaded myocytes to determine whether the [Ca2+] rise was due to Ca2+ influx, release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), or a combination of both. BAY K 8644 and nifedipine affected ATP-induced [Ca2+] transients, indicating involvement of voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels. Addition of ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) or Ca2+ channel blockers significantly reduced cytosolic [Ca2+] changes due to addition of ATP or KCl without depleting Ca2+ stores (shown by ionomycin treatment in a Ca2+-free medium), demonstrating that these responses require Ca2+ influx. Depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores by caffeine or ryanodine also diminished cytosolic [Ca2+] responses, indicating that a portion of the increased cytosolic [Ca2+] is due to Ca2+ release from SR. Norepinephrine potentiates the ATP-Ca2+ response, and this effect was not inhibited by depletion of intracellular stores. Although the data show that there are two Ca2+ sources in the cytosolic Ca2+ response to ATP, the pattern is also consistent with the hypothesis of Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release from cardiac SR.