The aim of the present study was to elucidate the question of whether cardiomyocytes possess stimulatory adenylyl cyclase-coupled A2-adenosine receptors and whether these receptors modify contractility. In isolated electrically driven ventricular cardiomyocytes from guinea-pig hearts the effects of the A2-adenosine receptor agonist 2-[(p-2-carboxyethyl)-phenethylamino]-5'-N-ethylcarboxamide-adenos ine (CGS 21680C) alone and in the presence of isoprenaline on cAMP content and contractile response were investigated. In addition, we characterized these effects with selective A1- and A2-adenosine receptor antagonists [1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine, DPCPX and 9-chloro-2-(2-furanyl)-5,6-dihydro-1,2,4-triazolo-(1,5-c)quinazolin++ +-5-imine, CGS 15943A, respectively]. To investigate the signal transduction pathway, the influence of pertussis toxin, known to inhibit signal transducing GTP-binding proteins (Gi/o-proteins), on these effects was studied. CGS 21680C alone and in the presence of isoprenaline increased cAMP content concentration-dependently (0.1 nmol/l-10 mumol/l) to maximally 154% of control and 137% of isoprenaline value, respectively. In the presence of the A1-adenosine receptor antagonist DPCPX (0.3 mumol/l) or after pertussis toxin-pretreatment (18 micrograms/kg i.v. 24-26 h) the cAMP increase was further elevated. The A2-adenosine receptor antagonist CGS 15943A (0.01 mumol/l) abolished these effects, indicating that these effects are mediated by A2-adenosine receptors. The elevation in cAMP content was not accompanied by an increase in contractile response. However, in the presence of isoprenaline CGS 21680C reduced contractile response to 62% of the isoprenaline value. The A1-adenosine receptor antagonist DPCPX abolished the decrease in contractility, whereas the A2-adenosine receptor antagonist CGS 15943A did not effect contractility. Thus the reduction in contractility is mediated via cAMP-decreasing A1-adenosine receptors. The results provide evidence for the coexistence of cAMP-reducing A1- and cAMP-elevating A2-adenosine receptors on ventricular cardiomyocytes. Only stimulation of A1-adenosine receptors leads to a subsequent reduction in contractile response, whereas A2-adenosine receptors do not affect contractility.