Dantrolene is the only known effective treatment for malignant hyperthermia. However, its effects on the myopathic diaphragm remain unknown. The effects of dantrolene 10(-8) to 10(-4) mol litre-1 on diaphragm muscle strips in normal (n = 12) and myopathic hamsters (n = 13) were investigated in vitro in response to tetanic stimulation. We studied contraction under isotonic and isometric conditions. Data are presented as mean (SD) percent of baseline. Dantrolene induced a negative inotropic effect in normal and myopathic hamsters but no significant difference was observed between groups (active force at 10(-4) mol litre-1; 34 (7) vs 32 (11)%; ns). We conclude that dantrolene induced a comparable negative inotropic effect on diaphragm muscle in normal and myopathic hamsters.