The present study examines the stimulatory effect of opioids on adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) production in the human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-SH, and its dependence on calcium. We show that, in this culture, the mu-opioid selective agonist [D-Ala(2), N-Me-Phe(4), Gly(5)-ol]-Enkephalin stimulates cyclic AMP production by 30% in a naloxone-reversible manner. This stimulation is completely dependent on calcium and involves the activation of calcium/calmodulin since it is abolished in the presence of EGTA, calcium channel blockers or N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide hydrochloride (W-7). The results suggest that the activation of calcium/calmodulin dependent adenylyl cyclases by opioids in SK-N-SH cells is secondary to the induction of calcium influx and the consequent elevation of intracellular calcium level.