Store-operated Ca(2+) channels in liver cells have been shown previously to exhibit a high selectivity for Ca(2+) and to have properties indistinguishable from those of Ca(2+)-release-activated Ca(2+) (CRAC) channels in mast cells and lymphocytes [Rychkov, Brereton, Harland and Barritt (2001) Hepatology 33, 938-947]. The role of CRAC channels in the maintenance of hormone-induced oscillations in the cytoplasmic free Ca(2+) concentration (Ca(2+)) in isolated rat hepatocytes was investigated using several inhibitors of CRAC channels. 2-Aminoethyl diphenylborate (2-APB; 75 microM), Gd(3+) (1 microM) and 1-[beta-[3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propoxy]-4-methoxyphenethyl]-1H-imidazole hydrochloride (SK&F 96365; 50 microM) each inhibited vasopressin- and adrenaline (epinephrine)-induced Ca(2+) oscillations (measured using fura-2). The characteristics of this inhibition were similar to those of inhibition caused by decreasing the extracellular Ca(2+) concentration to zero by addition of EGTA. The effect of 2-APB was reversible. In contrast, LOE-908 [( R, S )-(3,4-dihydro-6,7-dimethoxy-isochinolin-1-yl)-2-phenyl- N, N -di[2-(2,3,4-trimethoxyphenyl)ethyl]acetamide mesylate] (30 microM), used commonly to block Ca(2+) inflow through intracellular-messenger-activated, non-selective cation channels, did not inhibit the Ca(2+) oscillations. In the absence of added extracellular Ca(2+), 2-APB, Gd(3+) and SK&F 96365 did not alter the kinetics of the increase in Ca(2+) induced by a concentration of adrenaline or vasopressin that induces continuous Ca(2+) oscillations at the physiological extracellular Ca(2+) concentration. Ca(2+) inflow through non-selective cation channels activated by maitotoxin could not restore Ca(2+) oscillations in cells treated with 2-APB to block Ca(2+) inflow through CRAC channels. Evidence for the specificity of the pharmacological agents for inhibition of CRAC channels under the conditions of the present experiments with hepatocytes is discussed. It is concluded that Ca(2+) inflow through CRAC channels is required for the maintenance of hormone-induced Ca(2+) oscillations in isolated hepatocytes.