Mild pulmonic stenosis, induced in dogs by banding the pulmonary artery, elevated right ventricular peak systolic pressure to 60% above the control and elevated right ventricular K+- and Ca2+- activated myosin ATPase activities. In contrast, severe pulmonic stenosis, which elevated right ventricular peak systolic pressure to 300% above the control, did not produce an increase in myosin enzymatic ATPase Vmax values but caused a decrease in myosin activity. Mild aortic stenosis, induced by banding the ascending aorta, forcing a transaortic pressure gradient of 25 mm Hg, caused an elevation in left ventricular muosin ATPase, whereas severe aortic banding, brought about by creating a transaortic pressure gradient of 55 mm Hg, never caused an elevation in left ventricular myosin enzymatic Vmax values, but, like severe pulmonic banding, caused a decrease in K+- and Ca2+- activated myosin activities. Normal left ventricular myosin Vmax values in mumol of PO4/mg-min at 37 degrees C were: K+ = 2.84 +/- 0.22, and Ca2+ = 0.97 +/- 0.14. For right ventricular myosin they were: K+ = 2.15 +/- 0.16, and Ca2+ =0.74 +/- 0.10. Analyses of tissue gases, based on mass spectrometry data, showed that the hypertrophied ventricles had an elevated tissue pCO2 and an elevation in the cGMP/cAMP ratio.