The beta-adrenergic stimulation of cardiac contraction and relaxation is related to an augmented Ca++ oscillation mediated by cAMP. This Ca++ mobilization may secondarily involve calmodulin in a way modulating the mechanical responses. We tested this possibility by studying interferences of trifluoperazine (which is able to block Ca++-calmodulin) with beta-adrenergic responses in rat heart papillary muscles. Trifluoperazine up to 10(-5) mol/l did not change the basal function. 10(-5) mol/l trifluoperazine augmented the contractile response to isoprenaline above 10(-7) mol/l. The inotropic effects of isoprenaline below 10(-7) mol/l and of the partial beta-agonist prenalterol were not influenced by trifluoperazine. 10(-5) mol/l trifluoperazine attenuated the stimulation of initial relaxation by isoprenaline in the entire concentration range. Thus this beta-adrenergic response was more sensitive to trifluoperazine than the contractile response. But trifluoperazine only slightly and non-significantly attenuated the stimulation of initial relaxation by prenalterol. From experiments on broken cell preparations the present results can be explained in terms of calmodulin blockade and thus inhibition of Ca++ efflux across the sarcolemma and of Ca++ uptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Trifluoperazine effects unrelated to calmodulin can hardly account for the results. Thus a full beta-agonist can apparently mobilize enough Ca++ to activate calmodulin systems important for the final effects on the contraction-relaxation cycle.