The present study demonstrated that L channel currents were decreased in smooth muscle cells, and increased in ventricular myocytes by both bovine parathyroid hormone, (bPTH-(1-34)), and dibutyryl cyclic AMP (db-cAMP), using the whole cell version of the patch clamp technique with Ba2+ as the charge carrier. The effects of bPTH-(1-34) and db-cAMP on L channel currents were additive but not synergistic. Furthermore, the effects of bPTH-(1-34) on L channel currents in these 2 cell preparations were abolished in the presence of a cAMP antagonist. These results suggest that the effects of bPTH-(1-34) on L channel currents in vascular smooth muscle cells and ventricular myocytes are mediated by a cAMP-dependent mechanism.