The effects of lanthanum on the resting membrane potential, action potential, membrane resistance, twitch tension, and potassium contracture were investigated and the localization of the drug was studied electron microscopically in isolated frog ventricular muscle. Lanthanum in concentration of 0.2 to 5 mM decreased the resting potential by about 5-8 mV, which was accompanied by an increase in the membrane resistance of about 43% for the depolarizing and 40% for the hyperpolarizing direction. Lanthanum caused a decrease in height and a prominent shortening of the action potential, and also, a depression of the plateau level. In addition, it increased the threshold for action potential generation depending on its concentration. The slow response action potential was inhibited by lanthanum in parallel with twitch inhibition. This finding suggests that the twitch inhibition resulted from the suppression of the slow inward calcium current. In contrast, potassium contracture was not inhibited by lanthanum. When the muscle preparation was treated with neuraminidase, the twitch inhibition caused by lanthanum was strongly depressed. Electron microscopic observation revealed that the precipitates of lanthanum were localized on the external lamina of myocytes as well as in the extracellular spaces but could never be found within the cytoplasm. No such precipitates could be detected in the neuraminidase-treated muscle. From these results it is suggested that lanthanum takes the place of calcium at the membrane surface: it modifies permeabilities to sodium, potassium and calcium ions and the excitation-contraction coupling of the ventricular muscle by replacing calcium bound to the membrane-surface.