We have examined the temporal response of regional subendocardial function in conscious chronically instrumented dogs following implantation of a circumflex ameroid occluder. Collateralization was limited by ligation of epicardial anastamoses between the circumflex and adjacent coronary arteries at the time of instrumentation. Sonomicrometrically measured regional function in the circumflex coronary artery became depressed relative to that in the left anterior descending coronary artery bed under resting conditions with the onset of an aortic-circumflex pressure gradient of 15 +/- 2.9 mm Hg (mean +/- SEM). At the time of total ameroid occlusion, the ratio of circumflex to left anterior descending coronary artery function fell to 68 +/- 8% of control, with mean circumflex coronary pressure decreasing to 60 +/- 1.6 mm Hg. Following ameroid occlusion, distal coronary pressure increased, and circumflex function recovered towards control but remained depressed relative to that in the left anterior descending coronary artery for 2-4 weeks. Measurements of regional subendocardial perfusion suggested a dissociation between subendocardial flow and function prior to but not following coronary occlusion by the ameroid. We conclude that this model results in reductions in regional function that are relatively prolonged and are not readily attributable to subendocardial infarction or a critical reduction in resting coronary flow. The data suggest that functional adaptations in response to gradually developing coronary occlusion are more complex than those associated with acute reductions in coronary artery pressure and flow.