Lidocaine and tocainide had no effect on ventricular conduction of extrasystoles with coupling intervals longer than 500 msec in isolated blood-perfused dog hearts, but caused interval-related increases in conduction time of extrasystoles in the range of 250--400 msec, here called mid-range extrasystoles (MRE). Quinidine, procainamide, disopyramide, and methyl lidocaine increased conduction times of extrasystoles at all coupling intervals, and no additional slowing of MRE was observed. The slowing of MRE specific to lidocaine and tocainide was confirmed in the intact dog heart. During acute myocardial ischemia in the intact dog heart, conduction was slowed and additional slowing of MRE was found. Lidocaine and tocainide caused further slowing of conduction of MRE. This unique effect of lidocaine and tocainide on the conduction of MRE may be important in the suppression of reentrant arrhythmias. However, lidocaine and tocainide were also found to be arrhythmogenic when extrasystoles were introduced, after acute coronary occlusion, in those animals in which such occlusion alone did not allow demonstration of arrhythmias due to extrasystoles.