The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of palmitoyl carnitine on calcium homeostasis in F11 cell lines using calcium imaging technique. Cells were loaded with the calcium sensitive dye, fura-2 and intracellular free calcium concentration was measured by fluorescence imaging. Palmitoyl carnitine increased intracellular free calcium levels in a dose dependent manner. Pretreatment of cells with ryanodine significantly inhibited palmitoyl carnitine-induced increases in intracellular calcium levels. Data from this study demonstrates that palmitoyl carnitine may detorriate this cells by causing impairment in intracellular Ca2+ handling capacity.