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Mechanical restitution and recirculation fraction in cardiac myocytes and left ventricular muscle of adult rats

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Abstract

Unloaded cell shortening was measured in electrically stimulated myocytes from adult rat hearts to compare the contractile response to stimulation with that in isometrically contracting left ventricular papillary muscles under similar experimental conditions, but preloaded to produce maximum twich tension. Mechanical restitution in cells followed a biexponential function with time constants of 0.19±0.03 s and 36.4±10.2 s (7 cells from 5 hearts, n=7/5). The time constants for papillary muscles were 0.58±0.05s and 14.6±1.0 s (n=6/6). In myocytes, maximum post-rest potentiation occurred after 30 to 60 s of rest. The potentiation after 60 s of rest was. 2.48±0.31 times the steadystate in cells and 2.63±0.16 in papillary muscles. Recirculation fraction of C2+ as calculated from the decay of post-rest potentiation was 0.84±0.04 in single cells and 0.59±0.02 in papillary muscles (p<0.005). Caffeine (3mM) abolished post-rest potentiation in both types of preparations. The numerical values for the time constants of mechanical restitution, potentiation factor and recirculation fraction in papillary muscles did not depend on preload. It is concluded that interval-dependent changes of contractility are preserved in single cardiac cells but the kinetics of decay of potentiation appear to have changed quantitatively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Pharmakologie, Universität-Gesamthochschule Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, 45122, Essen, FRG

    U. Ravens, C. Mahl & A. Ohler

  2. Academic and Clinical Department of Cardiology, University College London Medical School and Hospitals, Grafton Way, London, UK

    S. M. C. Hardman

  3. Academic Unit of Cardiovascular Medicine, Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, Horseferry Road, London, UK

    M. I. M. Noble

Authors
  1. U. Ravens
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  2. C. Mahl
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  3. A. Ohler
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  4. S. M. C. Hardman
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  5. M. I. M. Noble
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Ravens, U., Mahl, C., Ohler, A. et al. Mechanical restitution and recirculation fraction in cardiac myocytes and left ventricular muscle of adult rats. Basic Res Cardiol 91, 123–130 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00799684

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00799684

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