Preservation of regional myocardial function, high-energy phosphate stores and ultrastructure were assessed in 28 canine hearts subjected to 2 hours of global ischemia at either 12 degrees C or 21 degrees C. The preservation achieved with a potassium arrest solution was simultaneously compared in the same heart with either a nifedipine arrest solution or a potassium plus nifedipine arrest solution. There were no statistically significant differences in regional function recovery between the three arrest solutions at either temperature. At 12 degrees C, slightly better functional preservation was noted for each solution. End-systolic chord length was significantly less elongated after preservation at the lower temperature (p = 0.03). The concentration of ATP and myocardial water content were not significantly better preserved with any solution at either temperature. Myocardial ultrastructure was well preserved regardless of the solution or temperature used. The degree of hypothermia appears to be more important to functional preservation than differences between the three solutions tested. We conclude that with respect to preservation of myocardial function, high-energy phosphate stores, water content and ultrastructure, nifedipine arrest offers no advantages over potassium arrest.