Skip to main content
NCBI home page
The Journal of Clinical Investigation logoLink to The Journal of Clinical Investigation
. 1973 May;52(5):1187–1194. doi: 10.1172/JCI107285

Extent of Regulation of the Heart's Contractile State in the Conscious Dog by Alteration in the Frequency of Contraction

Charles B Higgins 1,2,3, Stephen F Vatner 1,2,3, Dean Franklin 1,2,3, Eugene Braunwald 1,2,3
PMCID: PMC302374  PMID: 4700491

Abstract

The effects of alterations in the frequency of contraction over the range from 94 to 220/min on left ventricular pressure, diameter, and dP/dt were studied in 10 dogs instrumented with ultrasonic diameter ganges and miniature pressure gauges. The same dogs were studied on separate days in the conscious state, after general anesthesia with pentobarbital Na, 30 mg/kg, and in the conscious state after pretreatment with propranolol, 3 mg/kg. End diastolic diameter was maintained constant during alterations in frequency by infusing saline intravenously. The maximum increases in peak dP/dt and dP/dt/P in the conscious state were 14 and 10%, respectively. After anesthesia, raising the frequency of contraction from 122 to 220/min caused maximum increases in peak dP/dt and dP/dt/P of 36 and 30%, respectively. In the conscious state after cardiac depression by propranolol, the maximum increases in peak dP/dt and dP/dt/P were 23 and 23%, respectively. Thus, increasing the frequency of contraction of the normal heart of the conscious dog causes only a slight inotropic effect, but this effect is significantly greater in the presence of myocardial depression produced by anesthesia with pentobarbital Na or in the conscious animal after a myocardial-depressing dose of propranolol.

Full text

PDF
1187

Images in this article

1189Image
on p.1189
1189Image
on p.1189
1190Image
on p.1190

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BLINKS J. R., KOCH-WESER J. Analysis of the effects of changes in rate and rhythm upon myocardial contractility. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1961 Dec;134:373–389. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Boerth R. C., Covell J. W., Pool P. E., Ross J., Jr Increased myocardial oxygen consumption and contractile state associated with increased heart rate in dogs. Circ Res. 1969 May;24(5):725–734. doi: 10.1161/01.res.24.5.725. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Covell J. W., Ross J., Jr, Taylor R., Sonnenblick E. H., Braunwald E. Effects of increasing frequency of contraction on the force velocity relation of left ventricle. Cardiovasc Res. 1967 Jan;1(1):2–8. doi: 10.1093/cvr/1.1.2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. ELLIS R. M., FRANKLIN D. L., RUSHMER R. F. Left ventricular dimensions recorded by sonocardiometry. Circ Res. 1956 Nov;4(6):684–688. doi: 10.1161/01.res.4.6.684. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Furnival C. M., Linden R. J., Snow H. M. Inotropic changes in the left ventricle: the effect of changes in heart rate, aortic pressure and end-diastolic pressure. J Physiol. 1970 Dec;211(2):359–387. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1970.sp009283. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. GILMORE J. P., SARNOFF S. J., MITCHELL J. H., LINDEN R. J. Synchronicity of ventricular contraction: observations comparing haemodynamic effects of atrial and ventricular pacing. Br Heart J. 1963 May;25:299–307. doi: 10.1136/hrt.25.3.299. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. GLICK G., SONNENBLICK E. H., BRAUNWALD E. MYOCARDIAL FORCE-VELOCITY RELATIONS STUDIED IN INTACT UNANESTHETIZED MAN. J Clin Invest. 1965 Jun;44:978–988. doi: 10.1172/JCI105215. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Graham T. P., Jr, Ross J., Jr, Covell J. W., Sonnenblick E. H., Clancy R. L. Myocardial oxygen consumption in acute experimental cardiac depression. Circ Res. 1967 Aug;21(2):123–138. doi: 10.1161/01.res.21.2.123. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. HAJDU S., LEONARD E. Cardiac active principles in blood plasma. Circulation. 1961 Aug;24:530–540. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.24.2.530. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. HAJDU S., SZENT-GYORGYI A. Action of DOC and serum on the frog heart. Am J Physiol. 1952 Jan;168(1):159–170. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1951.168.1.159. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. KAVALER F. Uniformity of the contractile response of ventricular muscle in high-calcium Tyrode's solution. Nature. 1962 Dec 15;196:1104–1106. doi: 10.1038/1961104b0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. KOCH-WESER J., BLINKS J. R. Analysis of the relation of the positive inotropic action of cardiac glycosides to the frequency of contraction of heart muscle. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1962 Jun;136:305–317. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. KOCH-WESER J., BLINKS J. R. THE INFLUENCE OF THE INTERVAL BETWEEN BEATS ON MYOCARDIAL CONTRACTILITY. Pharmacol Rev. 1963 Sep;15:601–652. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. LENDRUM B., FEINBERG H., BOYD E., KATZ L. N. Rhythm effects on contractility of the beating isovolumic left ventricle. Am J Physiol. 1960 Dec;199:1115–1120. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1960.199.6.1115. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Langer G. A. Ion fluxes in cardiac excitation and contraction and their relation to myocardial contractility. Physiol Rev. 1968 Oct;48(4):708–757. doi: 10.1152/physrev.1968.48.4.708. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. MONROE R. G., FRENCH G. N. Left ventricular pressure-volume relationships and myocardial oxygen consumption in the isolated heart. Circ Res. 1961 Mar;9:362–374. doi: 10.1161/01.res.9.2.362. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Mason D. T., Braunwald E., Covell J. W., Sonnenblick E. H., Ross J., Jr Assessment of cardiac contractility. The relation between the rate of pressure rise and ventricular pressure during isovolumic systole. Circulation. 1971 Jul;44(1):47–58. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.44.1.47. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. NIEDERGERKE R. The staircase phenomenon and the action of calcium on the heart. J Physiol. 1956 Dec 28;134(3):569–583. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1956.sp005666. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Nayler W. G. The effect of pronethalol and propranolol on lipid-facilitated transport of calcium ions. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1966 Sep;153(3):479–484. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Noble M. I., Wyler J., Milne E. N., Trenchard D., Guz A. Effect of changes in heart rat on left ventricular performance in conscious dogs. Circ Res. 1969 Feb;24(2):285–295. doi: 10.1161/01.res.24.2.285. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. O'Brien K. P., Higgs L. M., Glancy D. L., Epstein S. E. Hemodynamic accompaniments of angina: a comparison during angina induced by exercise and by atrial pacing. Circulation. 1969 Jun;39(6):735–743. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.39.6.735. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Ross J., Jr, Covell J. W., Sonnenblick E. H. The mechanics of left ventricular contraction in acute experimental cardiac failure. J Clin Invest. 1967 Mar;46(3):299–312. doi: 10.1172/JCI105532. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. SEKUL A. A., HOLLAND W. C. C1-36 and Ca-45 exchange in atrial fibrillation. Am J Physiol. 1959 Oct;197:752–756. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1959.197.4.752. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Siegel J. H. The myocardial contractile state and its role in the response to anesthesia and surgery. Anesthesiology. 1969 May;30(5):519–564. doi: 10.1097/00000542-196905000-00012. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Sonnenblick E. H., Braunwald E., Williams J. F., Jr, Glick G. Effects of exercise on myocardial force-velocity relations in intact unanesthetized man: relative roles of changes in heart rate, sympathetic activity, and ventricular dimensions. J Clin Invest. 1965 Dec;44(12):2051–2062. doi: 10.1172/JCI105312. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Stegall H. F., Kardon M. B., Stone H. L., Bishop V. S. A portable, simple sonomicrometer. J Appl Physiol. 1967 Aug;23(2):289–293. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1967.23.2.289. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. VANCITTERS R. L., FRANKLIN D. L., RUSHMER R. F. LEFT VENTRICULAR DYNAMICS IN DOGS DURING ANESTHESIA WITH ALPHA-CHLORALOSE AND SODIUM PENTOBARBITAL. Am J Cardiol. 1964 Mar;13:349–354. doi: 10.1016/0002-9149(64)90451-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Van Citters R. L., Franklin D. L. Telemetry of blood pressure in free-ranging animals via an intravascular gauge. J Appl Physiol. 1966 Sep;21(5):1633–1636. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1966.21.5.1633. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Vatner S. F., Franklin D., Higgins C. B., Patrick T., Braunwald E. Left ventricular response to severe exertion in untethered dogs. J Clin Invest. 1972 Dec;51(12):3052–3060. doi: 10.1172/JCI107132. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Vatner S. F., Higgins C. B., Franklin D., Braunwald E. Extent of carotid sinus regulation of the myocardial contractile state in conscious dogs. J Clin Invest. 1972 Apr;51(4):995–1008. doi: 10.1172/JCI106893. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Vatner S. F., Higgins C. B., Milland R. W., Franklin D. Direct and reflex effects of nitroglycerin on coronary and left ventricular dynamics in conscious dogs. J Clin Invest. 1972 Nov;51(11):2872–2882. doi: 10.1172/JCI107110. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Vatner S. F., Higgins C. B., Patrick T., Franklin D., Braunwald E. Effects of cardiac depression and of anesthesia on the myocardial action of a cardiac glycoside. J Clin Invest. 1971 Dec;50(12):2585–2595. doi: 10.1172/JCI106759. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. WINEGRAD S. The possible role of calcium in excitation-contraction coupling of heart muscle. Circulation. 1961;24:523–529. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.24.2.523. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Whitsitt L. S., Lucchesi B. R. Effects of propranolol and its stereoisomers upon coronary vascular resistance. Circ Res. 1967 Sep;21(3):305–317. doi: 10.1161/01.res.21.3.305. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Wolk M. J., Keefe J. F., Bing O. H., Finkelstein L. J., Levine H. J. Estimation of Vmax in auxotonic systoles from the rate of relative increase of isovolumic pressure: (dP-dt)kP. J Clin Invest. 1971 Jun;50(6):1276–1285. doi: 10.1172/JCI106606. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Clinical Investigation are provided here courtesy of American Society for Clinical Investigation

RESOURCES