Homogenates of cardiac left ventricle from malignant hyperthermia-susceptible (MHS) pigs produced a circa 72% more pentane than those from malignant hyperthermia-resistant (MHR) animals, indicating enhanced peroxidation of n-6 fatty acids. This is consistent with the observed circa 70% decrease in total phospholipid polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in MHS compared with MHR tissue, a decrease mainly due to the quantitatively greater loss of n-6 PUFA. Although the percentage loss of n-3 PUFA was greater than that of n-6 PUFA (90% vs 60%), absolute amounts were insufficient to register as ethane production. Three-fold greater phospholipid content of MHS compared with MHR ventricles indicates reduced neutral lipid content probably due to increased catecholamine stimulation. These findings were associated with a small but significant decrease in superoxide dismutase activity in MHS tissues.