Chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) is often associated with cardiovascular disease; however, its underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. Therefore, in the present study, myocardial functions and metabolic changes were investigated using an animal model of CRI in subtotally nephrectomized rats. In addition, some other parameters, considered risk factors of cardiovascular diseases, were determined. Subtotal nephrectomy led to an elevation in blood pressure (144 +/- 2.8 vs 114 +/- 2.5 mm Hg), left ventricular hypertrophy (290 +/- 12 vs 200 +/- 40 mg/100 g b.w.), hypertriglyceridaemia (2.96 +/- 0.31 vs 0.77 +/- 0.07 mmol/l), and impaired glucose tolerance (AUC 836 +/- 12.4 vs 804 +/- 10.4 mmol x l(-1) x 120 min). Isolated perfused hearts of uraemic rats exhibited diminished basal functions (coronary and aortic flow, stroke volume) by 20-30% compared with the controls. Interestingly, the tolerance of isolated heart to global 20-min no-flow ischaemia was improved in uraemic rats. The most marked differences in heart function recovery during reperfusion concerned aortic flow (90 +/- 2.3 vs 66 +/- 10%) and stroke volume (97 +/- 2.7 vs 68 +/- 5.6% of pre-ischaemic values). Pre-ischaemic myocardial glycogen content was distinctly increased (by 50%) in uraemic rats compared with the controls.