Isolated perfused working hearts from male adult Sprague Dawley rats were used to examine myocardial performance following acute in vivo endotoxin administration (LD50-6-hour). Three hours after endotoxin administration, cardiac output and peak systolic pressure in the isolated perfused working heart were depressed 25-50% over a range of left atrial filling pressures (preload) from 10 to 30 cm of water. Linear regression analysis of the relationship between myocardial work indices, oxygen uptake, and glucose oxidation indicated that the hearts from the endotoxin-treated animals required more oxygen and glucose to perform the same amount of work. Levels of cyclic 3'5' adenosine monophosphate were 72% higher in ventricular tissue from the endotoxin-treated group compared to the hearts of controls. Isoproterenol (10(-9) mol/min) raised levels of the nucleotide to the same final concentration in both groups of hearts, whereas myocardial pressure work in hearts from endotoxin-treated rats was only 70% that of control. Provision of isoproterenol, while increasing mechanical work by the hearts in the endotoxin-treated group, did not induce an increase to the same performance levels as that of control hearts not treated with isoproterenol. These data are consistent with the concept that endotoxemia produces an intrinsic defect in myocardial mechanical performance.