Hyperkalemic cardioplegic arrest (HCA) and rewarming evokes postoperative myocyte contractile dysfunction, a phenomenon of particular importance in settings of preexisting left ventricular (LV) failure. Caspases are intracellular proteolytic enzymes recently demonstrated to degrade myocardial contractile proteins. This study tested the hypothesis that myocyte contractile dysfunction induced by HCA could be ameliorated with caspase inhibition in the setting of compromised myocardial function. LV myocytes were isolated from control pigs (n = 9, 30 kg) or pigs with LV failure induced by rapid pacing (n = 6, 240 bpm for 21 days) and were randomized to the following: (1) normothermia (2003 myocytes), incubation in cell culture medium for 2 hours at 37 degrees C; (2) HCA only (506 myocytes), incubation for 2 hours in hypothermic HCA solution (4 degrees C, 24 mEq K); or (3) HCA + z-VAD, incubation in hypothermic HCA solution supplemented with 10 microM of the caspase inhibitor z-VAD (z-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethyl-ketone, 415 myocytes). Inotropic responsiveness was examined using beta-adrenergic stimulation (25 nM isoproterenol). Ambient normothermic myocyte shortening velocity (microm/s) was reduced with LV failure compared with control values (54 +/- 2 versus 75 +/- 2, respectively, P < 0.05). Following HCA, shortening velocity decreased in the LV failure and control groups (27 +/- 5 and 45 +/- 3, P < 0.05). Institution of z-VAD increased myocyte shortening velocity following HCA in both the LV failure and control groups (49 +/- 5 and 65 +/- 5, P < 0.05). Moreover, HCA supplementation with z-VAD increased beta-adrenergic responsiveness in both groups compared with HCA-only values. This study provides proof of concept that caspase activity contributes to myocyte contractile dysfunction following simulated HCA. Pharmacologic caspase inhibition may hold particular relevance in the execution of cardiac surgical procedures requiring HCA in the context of preexisting LV failure.