Abstract Background Brown adipose tissue (BAT) contains both α- and β-adrenergic receptors. In the literature, the activity of α-adrenoreceptors is less documented, and their functions still remain puzzling. The present investigation has been undertaken to understand α-adrenoreceptors’ activity and their relation between uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) mRNA expression and cyclic AMP (cAMP) generation in BAT. Methods BAT precursor cells from young mice were grown in culture. Cells were exposed to norepinephrine (NE) and other agents. RNA was isolated after harvesting the cells, and northern blot was performed. Filters were exposed to film after hybridization with nick-translated complementary DNA probes, and results were evaluated by scanning. Amersham assay kit was used for cAMP measurement. Results Treatment of prazosin and yohimbine separately with 1 μM of NE shows stimulation of UCP1 mRNA expression 106% and 154%, respectively, whereas with that of both drugs shows only 76%. cAMP generation occurs 282% with prazosin, 100% with yohimbine, and 382% with both drugs with 1 μM of NE, whereas it is 310%, 40%, and 358%, respectively, with 10 μM of NE. Conclusions Stimulation of thermogenesis after treatment of prazosin and NE may be due to the inhibition of phosphodiesterase enzyme and with yohimbine and NE indicates the possibility of inhibition of the inhibitory effect of α₂- and stimulation of α₁-receptors. Increase of cAMP concentration with yohimbine and both drugs with NE are not correlated to UCP1 mRNA expression. This indicates that the relationship between cAMP elevation and stimulation of thermogenesis is not simple. This study clearly shows the interaction between β- and α-adrenoreceptor activities.