Rapid shortening during relaxation increases activation and improves systolic performance.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies in cardiac muscle and isolated heart preparations generally have attributed positive effects of ejection to greater length-dependent activation. However, there have been some reports of an ejection-related increase in contractile function that is independent of end-diastolic volume (EDV) history. The present study was designed to more fully characterize the mechanoenergetic results of the latter effect in the intact ventricle.


RESULTS
A servomotor was used to initiate left ventricular volume reduction (VR) at end systole, with EDV kept constant. Seven isolated, red blood cell-perfused rabbit hearts were studied at constant EDV during isovolumic contraction, slow VR (5.0 +/- 0.9 EDV/s), and rapid VR (26.8 +/- 5.1 EDV/s). Compared with isovolumic beats, VR caused an enhancement in contractility. This effect was greater for rapid VR and required > 50 beats to attain steady state. Rapid VR increased developed pressure by 15% (92.2 +/- 23.7 [mean +/- SD] versus 105.9 +/- 27.6 mm Hg), maximum dP/dt by 17% (1223 +/- 401 versus 1435 +/- 505 mm Hg.s-1), and Emax (slope of the end-systolic pressure-volume relation) by 13% (69.4 +/- 19.9 versus 78.6 +/- 23.0 mm Hg/mL) (all P < .01). Left ventricular oxygen consumption (VO2) was unchanged with slow VR and decreased by 8% with rapid VR (0.0744 +/- 0.0194 versus 0.0683 +/- 0.0141 mL O2.beat-1.100 g-1; P < .05). In separate hearts (n = 8), costs (basal metabolism and excitation-contraction coupling) were estimated by use of 2,3-butanedione monoxime. Compared with control, rapid VR was associated with a 26% increase in nonmechanical VO2 (0.0248 +/- 0.0021 versus 0.0312 +/- 0.0022 mL O2.beat-1.100 g-1; P < .01), consistent with an increase in calcium cycled per beat.


CONCLUSIONS
Ejection after end systole has a positive effect on ventricular performance that cannot be ascribed to length-dependent activation and is likely related to an increase in calcium available for activation. Similarly, an increase in nonmechanical VO2 associated with ejection suggests a positive interaction between myofilament shortening and activator calcium cycling.
Watkins
M W
MW
Cardiology Unit, University of Vermont, Burlington 05401, USA.
Higashiyama
A
A
Chen
Z
Z
LeWinter
M M
MM
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001810:Blood Volume; D002417:Cattle; D003931:Diacetyl / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011817:Rabbits; D013599:Systole
C004717:diacetylmonoxime; D003931:Diacetyl