title: Left ventricular systolic function, arterial elastance, and ventricular-vascular coupling: a developmental study in piglets.
abstract: Circulatory changes occur during perinatal life that increase cardiac output and left ventricular contractile reserve. To examine postnatal changes in left ventricular systolic function and ventricular-vascular coupling, piglets underwent cardiac catheterization at 1, 2, 4, and 6 wk of age. We measured end-systolic elastance (Ees), preload-recruitable stroke work, dP/dt(max), the dP/dt(max) end-diastolic volume relation, cardiac index, heart rate, arterial elastance (Ea), and the ratio Ea/Ees, at rest, during isoproterenol infusions (0.05-1.0 microg/kg/min), and after propranolol (1 mg/kg i.v.). Resting heart rate and cardiac index decreased between 1 and 6 wk. In 1 wk olds, resting Ees was at maximum and was unchanged during isoproterenol infusion; isoproterenol increased other contractility indices. Two, 4, and 6 wk olds demonstrated reserve using all contractility indices. Contractile efficiency was not different between ages. In 1 wk olds, Ea decreased during isoproterenol infusion; isoproterenol did not change Ea at 6 wk. Ea/Ees was higher at rest at 6 wk than at 1 wk, and fell significantly on isoproterenol; isoproterenol did not change Ea/Ees at 1 wk. With beta-adrenergic stimulation, 1 wk olds increased cardiac index by increasing heart rate and decreasing afterload, 6 wk olds increased cardiac index by increasing heart rate and contractility; no change in contractile efficiency was found in either group. In summary, contractile reserve is limited at 1 wk when measured by Ees, but other indices demonstrated reserve. Indexed Ea falls in response to beta-adrenergic stimulation in all ages but 6 wk. Ventricular-vascular coupling is optimized at 1 wk even under baseline conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University and Children's Hospital, Columbus 43205, USA.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Cassidy
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004548:Elasticity; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000187:drug effects; D013552:Swine; D013599:Systole; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*; D017725:Ventricular Pressure / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D007545:Isoproterenol