The effect of high concentration of magnesium on both mechanical dysfunction and metabolic damage after ischaemia-reperfusion was studied in isolated rat hearts. The heart was perfused by the Langendorff's technique at a constant flow (10 ml/min) with modified Krebs-Henseleit solution and driven at 300 beats/min. The heart was made ischaemic by reducing the flow to 0 ml/min for 25 min, and then reperfused at the constant flow for 15 min. MgSO4 was added to the perfusate for 5 min before the onset of ischaemia, or after the end of ischaemia (after the onset of reperfusion). Ischaemia-reperfusion produced both mechanical dysfunction (as evidenced by an increase in the left ventricular end diastolic pressure and a decrease in the left ventricular developed pressure) and metabolic damage [as evidenced by a decrease in the myocardial adenosine triphosphate (ATP)]. When 15 mmol/l MgSO4 was given before ischaemia, there was no appreciable recovery of mechanical function, whereas when given after ischaemia (during reperfusion), there was a marked recovery of mechanical function. Lower concentrations (10 or 5 mmol/l) of MgSO4 given after ischaemia recovered the mechanical function concentration-dependently. The beneficial effect of 15 mmol/l MgSO4 was minimized by the coexistence of 4.5 mmol/l CaCl2 in the reperfusion solution. The decrease in the myocardial level of ATP induced by ischaemia-reperfusion was attenuated by 15 mmol/l MgSO4 given in the reperfusion solution. These results suggest that high Mg2+ is effective in attenuating both functional and metabolic damage of the post-ischaemic heart, provided it is given after ischaemia.