This investigation studied the functional and energetic effects of the novel positive inotropic agent EMD-57033 and the negative inotropic agent 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA) in the paced Langendorff-perfused rat heart. EMD-57033 is a calcium-sensitizing agent that has previously been shown to increase contractility without affecting calcium transients. Its effects were compared with that of dobutamine, which increases contractility by increasing calcium transient amplitude. EMD-57033 (2 microM) and dobutamine (0.2 microM) induced a 40% increase in developed pressure. Myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2) increased significantly with dobutamine. However, there was no significant change in MVO2 with EMD-57033. There was no change in phosphate metabolite concentrations as detected by 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance with either agent. Lactate production and basal metabolism were unaffected by either agent. Thus EMD-57033 increased contractility in a more energetically economical manner than did dobutamine. Contractility was decreased with BAPTA, an intracellular calcium chelator that decreases contractility by binding free calcium. The metabolic effects of BAPTA (2.2 microM) were compared with those of verapamil (10 nM), an agent which decreases calcium fluxes. Both agents decreased developed pressure 60%. MVO2 decreased 14% with BAPTA and 50% with verapamil. Neither agent altered the concentrations of phosphate metabolites, lactate production, or basal metabolism. Thus BAPTA lowered contractility in a less energetically economical manner than verapamil. These data suggest that in rat hearts, inotropic agents with different effects on calcium handling have different effects on energetics.