We investigated the effects of cAMP-dependent phosphorylation on the voltage- and time-dependent gating properties of Ca2+ channel currents recorded from bovine adrenal chromaffin cells under whole-cell voltage clamp. Extracellular perfusion with the membrane-permeant activator of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, 8-bromo(8-Br)-cAMP (1 mM), caused a 49%, 29%, and 21% increase in Ca2+ current (ICa) amplitudes evoked by voltage steps to 0, +10, and +20 mV respectively (mean values from eight cells, p less than or equal to 0.05). Analysis of voltage-dependent steady-state activation (m infinity) curves revealed a 0.70 +/- 0.27 charge increase in the activation-gate valency (zm) following 8-Br-cAMP perfusion. Similar responses were observed when Ba2+ was the charge carrier, where zm was increased by 1.33 +/- 0.34 charges (n = 8). The membrane potential for half activation (V1/2) was also significantly shifted 6 mV more negative for IBa (mean, n = 8). The time course for IBa (and ICa) activation was well described by second-order m2 kinetics. The derived time constant for activation (tau m) was voltage-dependent, and the tau m/V relation shifted negatively after 8-Br-cAMP treatment. Ca2+ channel gating rates were derived from the tau m and m infinity 2 values according to a Hodgkin-Huxley type m2 activation process. The forward rate (alpha m) for channel activation was increased by 8-Br-cAMP at membrane potentials greater than or equal to 0 mV, and the backward rate (beta m) decreased at potentials less than or equal to + 10 mV. Time-dependent inactivation of ICa consisted of a slowly decaying component (tau h approximately 300 ms) and a "non-inactivating" steady-state component. The currents contributed by the two inactivation processes displayed different voltage dependences, the effects of 8-Br-cAMP being exclusively on the slowly inactivating L-type component.