Intracellular Ca2+ transients in cat papillary muscles were detected with the calcium-sensitive bioluminescent protein aequorin and correlated with tension development. The effects of a variety of inotropic interventions are interpreted in terms of their probable effects on Ca2+ entry, Ca2+ release, Ca2+ sequestration, and the Ca2+ -sensitivity of the contractile apparatus. In contrast to results reported in dog Purkyně strands, the aequorin signals in cat papillary muscles appear to be dominated by release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores.