The following parameters were studied before and after acute occlusion of the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery in 17 dogs: bradykinin (BK) in the coronary sinus blood, heart rate (HR), left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), left ventricular max dp/dt (LV max dp/dt), and an index of myocardial contractility (LV max dp/dt/IP). BK levels increased, reaching a maximum of 30 +/- 13 ng/ml 2 min after coronary ligation, accompanied by a significant elevation of LVEDP, and lowering of the myocardial contractility index. HR and LV max dp/dt showed no significant changes. A positive correlation obtained between the level of BK and LVEDP, as well as a negative correlation between the level of BK and of both LVSP and myocardial contractility index. Pretreatment with aprotinine (Trasylol), an inhibitor of kinin forming enzyme, prevented the increase in both BK and LVEDP after coronary artery ligation and caused an elevation of myocardial contractility index. These results suggest that BK formed within ischemic myocardium exerts a negative inotropic action on the heart.