Beating rat heart cultures were prepared in vitro and infected with Coxsackie B-2 virus. The cells were evaluated in the post-infected period for changes in cardiac enzymes, alterations in beating frequency and cytotoxicity as measured by chromium 51 (51Cr) release. The cardiac enzymes, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured in infected and uninfected controls over a period of 120 h. Enzyme levels in the infected cells remained essentially the same for the first 42 h as compared to the controls. At this time, the LDH levels increased rapidly reaching 116 +/- 24.8 U/l while the controls remained at 46.9 +/- 9.7 U/l. Aspartate aminotransferase levels increased at a slower rate and obtained a level of 104 +/- 20.2 U/l compared to 66.6 +/- 13.2 U/l in the control. Visual evidence of cellular damage as measured by decreased beating frequencies and the appearance of cytopathic effect was first noted at 42 h post-infection. Complete loss of cardiac beats and maximal viral cytopathic effect occurred at 96 h post-infection. Cardiac cellular damage as measured by cytotoxicity assay was found to parallel those changes seen in cardiac enzymes. No significant changes in cytotoxicity were observed for the first 24 h; however, at 48 h increased release of 51Cr was noted and visual evidence of viral replication also was present. The cardiac enzyme changes noted in beating rat heart cells appear to be similar to those changes reported in patients with viral-induced myocardial disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)