The increase in calcium binding of cardiac plasma membrane lipoprotein caused by general anesthetics and alcohol.

(1) Ca2+-binding lipoprotein was purified from dog heart plasma membrane and the effect of several general anesthetics, ethanol, and acetaldehyde on the Ca2+ binding was studied. (2) These drugs, which are known to cause myocardial depression increased the Ca2+ binding at clinically useful concentrations. (3) These results raise the possibility that these drugs, by increasing the Ca2+ binding to the plasma membrane, limit the availability of superficially located Ca2+ for excitation-contraction coupling and result in depression of myocardial contractile force.