Effects of (-)-BAY K 8644 on Ca2+ channel function were studied in guinea pig ventricular myocytes. It was found that the compound has both voltage-dependent stimulatory and inhibitory effects on the Ca2+ current (ICa), in agreement with prior studies. The basis for these effects was studied by evaluating the effects of (-)-BAY K 8644 on the Ca2+ channel gating current. It was found that the voltage-dependent inhibitory effects of the drug on ICa could be well explained by similar reductions in the amount of gating charge moved. However, the stimulatory effect of (-)-BAY K 8644 on ICa could not be simply correlated with changes in the amount of gating charge moved. Although the drug produced a shift of the charge-voltage relationship to more negative potentials, the drug actually reduced the total amount of movable gating charge. Thus it could be demonstrated that there are membrane potentials where (-)-BAY K 8644 reduced the Ca2+ channel gating current while enhancing ICa. In addition, the drug was found to slow the decay of the gating current during repolarization. It seems likely that (-)-BAY K 8644 has a dual effect on Ca2+ channels: affecting both the voltage dependence of gating charge and the relationship between open probability and charge movement.