In atrial myocytes, lacking t-tubules, $Ca^{2+}$ current ($I_{Ca}$)-initiated $Ca^{2+}$ release at the peripheral junctional sites propagates into the interior of the cell by diffusion of $Ca^{2+}$. We have previously reported that time of activation of the central sites is independent of $I_{Ca}$. In the present study we have probed the effects of Bay K 8644 on $Ca^{2+}$ propagation wave to the center of the myocyte using rapid 2-D confocal $Ca^{2+}$ imaging in the rat atrial myocytes. Enhancement of $I_{Ca}$ by Bay K 8644 accelerated the rate of peripheral $Ca^{2+}$ release, but did not affect the speed of propagation of central release. In contrast, enhancement of $I_{Ca}$ by intracellular cAMP reduced the magnitude of peripheral and central $Ca^{2+}$ transients, but significantly accelerated the speed of central $Ca^{2+}$ release. Our data suggest that the speed of central $Ca^{2+}$ propagation triggered by $I_{Ca}$ is not regulated by the magnitude of either $I_{Ca}$ or local cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ releases.