Endotoxin depresses left ventricular (LV) contractility independently of alterations in loading conditions, acidosis, or hypoxia (Hung and Lew, 1993a). We evaluated if endotoxin-induced LV depression is associated with a decrease in functional L-type calcium channels, as reflected by the number of dihydropyridine receptors measured by [3H]-PN200-110 binding. New Zealand white rabbits were instrumented with sonomicrometers to measure the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship after i.v. saline (group 1, n = 6), 5 micrograms/kg endotoxin (group II, n = 6), or 10 micrograms/kg endotoxin (group III, n = 6). The end-systolic volume (ESV) measured at a matched end-systolic pressure did not change significantly over 6 h in group I (ESV changed by < 5 +/- 2% S.E.) and group II (ESV changed by < 3 +/- 2%), but increased markedly in group III (ESV increased 70 +/- 24%, P < 0.05), indicating LV systolic depression. We measured [3H]-PN200-110 binding in crude membrane homogenates from the left ventricle. There was a dose-dependent decrease in Bmax: 75 +/- 5 fmol/mg protein in group I, 62 +/- 3 fmol/mg in group II, and 56 +/- 5 fmol/mg in group III (P = 0.02 by ANOVA). Since the majority of dihydropyridine receptors are functional L-type calcium channels in rabbits (Lew et al., 1991), we conclude that a decreased number of dihydropyridine receptors contributes to endotoxin-induced LV depression.