Previous studies in isolated cardiac myocytes suggest that impaired relaxation during reoxygenation after brief hypoxia results from abnormal Ca(2+)-myofilament interaction. Recent studies indicate that guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP)-elevating interventions selectively enhance myocardial relaxation. We investigated the effect of 8-bromoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-BrcGMP) on posthypoxic relaxation in single rat myocytes, with simultaneous measurement of contraction and intracellular Ca2+ (indo 1 fluorescence). In control myocytes (n = 11), reoxygenation after 10 min of hypoxia markedly prolonged time to peak shortening (+36.5 +/- 4.2%) and half-relaxation time (+75.7 +/- 11.3% cf. normoxic values; both P < 0.001) and reduced diastolic length but did not change cytosolic Ca2+. Under normoxic conditions, 50 microM 8-BrcGMP slightly reduced time to peak shortening and half-relaxation time and increased diastolic length but did not alter cytosolic Ca2+. In the presence of 8-BrcGMP, there was no posthypoxic delay in twitch relaxation nor was there a decrease in diastolic length (half-relaxation time -5.8 +/- 3.3% cf. normoxic values; P < 0.05 cf. control group; n = 11). Cytosolic Ca2+ remained unaltered. Thus, 8-BrcGMP fully prevents impaired posthypoxic relaxation in isolated cardiac myocytes, probably by altering Ca(2+)-myofilament interaction.