With patch clamp method,the effects of taurine (Tau) on slow inward calcium current (Ica) were investigated in single ventricular cells of guinea pigs. Tau decreased Ica in a dose- and voltage-dependent mode,but had little effect on reversal potential. Tau 0. 1 umol - L-1 decreased Ica by 17% and its maximal effective concentration was near 100 umol -L '. The initial block of Tau had already reached by 47% after a rest out of stimulation. Tau facilitated the reduction of lea through increasing clamp pulse frequency. The obtained results suggested that it decreased Ica in a use-dependent manner.