We tested the hypothesis that the selective kappa-opioid receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI) improves recovery from myocardial stunning. Ten dogs were chronically instrumented for measurement of heart rate, left atrial, aortic and left ventricular pressure (LVP), and the maximum rate of LVP increase (LV dP/dt(max)) and decrease (LV dP/dt(max)), coronary blood flow velocity and myocardial wall-thickening fraction. Regional myocardial blood flow was determined with fluorescent microspheres. Catecholamine plasma levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, and beta-endorphin and dynorphin plasma levels by radioimmunoassay. An occluder around the left anterior descending artery (LAD) allowed induction of a reversible LAD-ischemia. Animals underwent two experiments in a randomized crossover fashion on separate days: (a) 10 min LAD-occlusion (control experiment), (b) second ischemic episode 24 h after nor-BNI (2.5 mg/kg IV) (intervention). Dogs receiving nor-BNI showed an increase in wall-thickening fraction, LV dP/dt(max) and LV dP/dt(min) before ischemia and during the whole reperfusion (P < 0.05 versus control experiment). After nor-BNI pretreatment, dynorphin levels increased after induction of ischemia to a peak level of 15.1 +/- 3.6 pg/mL (P < 0.05 versus control experiment). The increase in plasma beta-endorphin during ischemia and early reperfusion was attenuated after nor-BNI. Compared with the control experiment, nor-BNI left global hemodynamics, regional myocardial blood flow, and catecholamine levels unchanged. In conclusion, nor-BNI improves recovery from myocardial stunning after regional myocardial ischemia in chronically instrumented dogs.