['The cardioprotective effects of the adenosine A3 receptor in a cardioplegia model have not been described. We tested the hypothesis that infusion of the A3 receptor agonist, Cl-IB-MECA (100 nM), as a pretreatment (PTx) and/or as a cardioplegic (CP) additive reduces postischemic myocardial injury.', 'Isolated perfused rat hearts underwent 30 minutes of normothermic ischemia, 60 minutes of intermittent hypothermic cardioplegia (10 degrees C), followed by 2 hours of reperfusion. Hearts were divided into four groups: (1) no pretreatment (PTx) and unsupplemented cardioplegia (CP) (control), (2) Cl-IB-MECA PTx and unsupplemented CP (A3-PTx), (3) no PTx and Cl-IB-MECA CP (A3-CP), or (4) Cl-IB-MECA PTx and Cl-IB-MECA CP (A3-[PTx+CP]).', 'Coronary flow was not increased after A3 pretreatment when compared to baseline values. After 2 hours of reperfusion, left ventricular developed pressure in control and A3-CP groups was depressed to 43% +/- 3% and 47% +/- 2% of baseline; while A3-PTx and A3-[PTx+CP] significantly increased left ventricular developed pressure (65% +/- 3% and 61% +/- 5%) from baseline relative to control and A3-CP. Effluent creatine kinase activity was significantly decreased by A3-PTx (1520 +/- 32 IU/L), A3-[PTx+CP] (1481 +/- 41 IU/L) from control (1734 +/- 54 IU/L) and A3-CP (1750 +/- 43 IU/L). Myocardial edema (% tissue water) was significantly less in A3-PTx (78 +/- 0.6%) and A3-[PTx+CP] (76% +/- 2%) compared with control (85% +/- 0.4%) and A3-CP (83% +/- 2%).'] Does adenosine A3 pretreatment before cardioplegic arrest attenuate postischemic cardiac dysfunction?