title: Endocardial control of myocardial performance.
abstract: Impairment of the endocardial surface has a profound influence on the mechanical performance of the underlying undamaged myocardium. It immediately and irreversibly shortens the duration of twitch tension development, particularly at a physiological extracellular [Ca++] and temperature, thereby affecting the relationship of peak isometric twitch tension development to both [Ca++]0 and length. Accordingly, the endocardium as the most primitive structure of the heart, may help to control the performance of the underlying myocardium by modulating the onset of early tension decline. These effects will result in important variations of peak contractile performance and of relaxation of the underlying myocardium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Medicine, University of Antwerp (RUCA-UIA), Belgium.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Brutsaert
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Meulemans
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Sipido
authors.forename: S U
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Sys
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D002415:Cats; D004699:Endocardium / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007537:Isometric Contraction; D007700:Kinetics; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium