OBJECTIVE: The aim was to evaluate regional coronary blood flow, contractile function, and concentration of phosphate compounds with inotropic stimulation in moderately ischaemic canine hearts. METHODS: Dogs were prepared with instrumentation for the determination of regional coronary blood flow (non-radioactive microsphere method), contractile function (sonomicrometry), and haemodynamics. Myocardial phosphate compounds were measured simultaneously by the phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopic technique. RESULTS: In the non-ischaemic condition, dobutamine increased regional coronary blood flow and enhanced contractile function with no significant changes in myocardial phosphate compounds. After constricting the left anterior descending coronary artery, dogs were divided into two groups according to their heart beat response to dobutamine, classified as no pronounced tachycardia with dobutamine (group NT), and pronounced tachycardia (group T). In group NT, dobutamine increased regional coronary blood flow and improved regional contractile function with no significant effect on myocardial phosphate compounds. In group T, dobutamine failed to increase regional coronary blood flow or to improve contractile function, but there was a significant increase in the inorganic phosphate to creatinine phosphate ratio. CONCLUSIONS: Dobutamine increased coronary blood flow and augmented contractile function without significant changes in phosphate compounds in the moderately ischaemic heart, when pronounced tachycardia was not induced. The augmentation of contractile function occurred without prominent improvement in energy metabolism.