Nitroglycerin caused dose-dependent increases in regional myocardial contractile force (MCF) in open-chest dogs, along with dose-dependent decreases in left ventricular end-diastolic (LVEDP) and arterial pressures and an increase in plasma catecholamines level. 2. The increase in MCF could not be completely prevented by propranolol along with a slight decrease in LVEDP and no increase in heart rate, although a nifedipine-produced increase in MCF without a significant decrease in LVEDP disappeared with propranolol despite the same decrease in arterial pressure.