In several human cancer cell lines and in a subclone of rat osteogenic sarcoma cells (UMR 106-06) possessing calcitonin receptors and a calcitonin-responsive adenylate cyclase, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) behaved as a weak calcitonin agonist. In another subclone of the same osteogenic sarcoma (UMR 106-01) with no measurable calcitonin receptors or response, both rat and human CGRP were found to increase cyclic AMP formation in a dose-dependent manner. The data indicate that CGRP is capable of a weak calcitonin-like action in cells with calcitonin receptors, but also that in some cells CGRP activates adenylate cyclase itself, independently of calcitonin receptors.