The species dependent variation in the cardiotonic activity of selective cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) isoenzyme inhibitors was examined by comparing the inotropic and PDE inhibitory effects of Org 30029 (N-hydroxy-5,6-dimethoxy-benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboximidamide HCl), 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine (IBMX), milrinone and rolipram in rat and rabbit ventricular myocardium. The relative activities of PDE isoenzymes in rat and rabbit cardiac ventricle were also examined to assess the role of the different PDE subtypes in modulating contractile force in the two species. In rabbit papillary muscles, IBMX, Org 30029 and milrinone increased contractile force whilst rolipram was inactive. The rank order of potency of the active compounds was Org 30029 greater than IBMX greater than milrinone. Only Org 30029 and IBMX produced significant positive inotropic responses in rat papillary muscles, milrinone and rolipram being inactive. However, large positive inotropic responses were obtained in rat papillary muscles when milrinone and rolipram were tested in combination. In rabbit papillary muscles, the positive inotropic action of milrinone was markedly potentiated by rolipram. Four main types of PDE (I, II, III, IV) isoenzymes were resolved, by DEAE-sepharose or Mono-Q ion-exchange chromatography, from both rat and rabbit cardiac ventricular tissue. In rabbit, Ca2+/calmodulin dependent PDE (PDE I) and cyclic GMP inhibited PDE (PDE III) were the dominant cAMP activities. In contrast, cyclic GMP stimulated PDE (PDE II), PDE III and cGMP insensitive PDE (PDE IV) represented the main cAMP activities in rat cardiac ventricle. The inhibitory effects of Org 30029, IBMX, milrinone and rolipram on PDE isoenzymes from rat and rabbit cardiac ventricle were essentially similar.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)