The direct and interactive effects of phosphodiesterase inhibition (PDEI) and beta-adrenergic receptor (beta AR) stimulation on isolated myocyte contractile function were examined after hypothermic, hyperkalemic, cardioplegic arrest (HHCA) and under normothermic conditions. Left ventricular (LV) myocytes were isolated from porcine hearts and myocyte contractile function was measured under normothermic conditions (37 degrees C in standard media) and after HHCA (2 h at 4 degrees C in Ringer's solution with 24 mEq KCl) with subsequent rewarming. Myocytes were then randomly assigned to treatment with the beta AR agonist isoproterenol (25 nM), the phosphodiesterase inhibitor amrinone (50 microM), or a combination of these compounds and contractile function measurements repeated. Baseline myocyte contractile function was reduced by 32% after HHCA. Isoproternol alone increased myocyte contractile function more than 100% under both normothermic conditions and after HHCA, whereas amrinone alone significantly (60%) improved myocyte contractile function only after HHCA. Amrinone preincubation followed by isoproterenol improved contractile function after HHCA to a greater extent than all other treatment protocols. In contrast, combination treatment under normothermic conditions did not augment myocyte contractile function relative to isoproterenol alone. These findings suggest that amrinone has differential effects on contractile processes. Moreover, the marked improvement of contractile function after HHCA with PDEI pretreatment followed by beta AR stimulation may have implications in treatment strategies for improving myocardial function after cardiopulmonary bypass and provide insight into contractile dysfunction after HHCA.