The action of Nupercaine on calcium efflux from rat liver mitochondria.

1. Nupercaine inhibits the Ca2+ efflux from rat liver mitochondria observed in the presence of Ruthenium Red, 50% inhibition being obtained at 80 microM-Nupercaine. 2. Neither the Ruthenium Red-stimulated efflux nor its inhibition by Nupercaine can be directly attributed to effects on mitochondrial stability. 3. Nupercaine perturbs the steady-state external Ca2+ concentration in the absence of Ruthenium Red to an extent that is explicable in terms of the inhibition of Ca2+ efflux. 4. Various factors that are likely to be involved in determining steady-state extra-mitochondrial Ca2+ concentrations are discussed.