Certain metabolic aspects of halothane s cardiac depressant action on the contractility of the myocardium were elucidated from a sudy of the effect of pyruvate on halothane-depressed rat atria. Approximately 6 mg% halothane was required to maintain a 50% depression of the contractility of rat atria suspended in a modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate glucose medium, pH 7.4, 30˚C for a 2 hr. period. Pyruvate was found to restore partially the contractility of halothane-depressed atria. The maximally effective concentration of pyruvate was 2.5 mM. There was minimal pyruvate effect on the force of contraction of control atria. The effect of pyruvate on halothane-depressed atria was shown to be due to the pyruvate and not the sodium ion of the sodium pyruvate. Pyruvate was found to produce no increase in the contractility of atria depressed by hypertonic medium, but caused a further depression. Selected aspects regarding the action of halothane on glucose metabolism in myocardial cells are discussed. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that at least a part of the negative inotropic action of halothane is due to an inhibition of glucose uptake or utilization in the glycolytic pathway.