Although the rate dependence of isolated muscle contractility is well known, the ventricular end-systolic pressure-volume relationship (ESPVR) has been reported to be insensitive to heart rate. To resolve this contradiction, we used an isolated, ejecting canine heart preparation perfused at a constant coronary arterial pressure. Heart rate was changed from 60 to 200 beats/min in steps of 20 beats/min. At least 10 pressure-volume loops under different filling pressures were obtained at each heart rate in each of six hearts. Over a heart rate range from 60 to 120 beats/min, the slope of the ESPVR (Ees) increased significantly from 3.5 ± 0.4 (SE) to 5.3 0.6 mm Hg/ml. In the range between 120 and 180 beats/min there was little change in Bes (5.3 + 0.6 to 5.4 + 0.6 mm Hg/ml), but at 200 beats/min Ees increased slightly to 5.7 0.5 mm Hg/ml. The volume axis intercept (V0) of the ESPVR changed little over the range of heart rate from 60 to 160 beats/min (10.2 ± 2 ml to 9.4 ± 1.3 ml) but increased to 15.2 + 1.2 ml at a rate of 200 beats/min. The change in ESPVR with increase in heart rate from 60 to 120 beats/min (i.e., increase in Ees without change in V0) is the same as those seen with a positive inotropic intervention with calcium or cathecholamines, whereas the V0 changes over the range from 160 to 200 beats/min is similar to those seen with regional ischemia. The insensitivity of ESPVR in the midrange may be the result of a balance of positive and negative influences on ventricular contraction or a restricted range for the increase in inotropic state with higher rate. Circulation 72, No. 3, 654-659, 1985. PHYSIOLOGISTS have long been aware that frequency of contraction influences the contractile state of myocardium. The earliest description of this phenomenon has been credited to Bowditch'; many investigators have since shown that in isolated muscle preparations24 and in isovolumically contracting hearts,5-' peak systolic tension or pressure is increased as the frequency of contraction increases.However, several investigators have questioned the importance of the frequency effect on contractility in vivo. 14 For example, Kavaler et al.9 showed that the effect was far less marked or absent in unexcised canine papillary muscles beating in situ. Suga et al.14 showed that changing heart rate over the midrange caused very little change in the end-systolic pressurevolume relationship (ESPVR).The purpose of this investigation was to reinvesti- 654 gate in excised, ejecting canine hearts the effects of extensive change in heart rate on the ESPVR under strictly controlled ejecting conditions, free of reflex stimulation, and over a wider range of heart rates than previously tested.
MethodsSurgical preparation. The supported isolated canine heart preparation used in this study has been previously described.8 Briefly, we used two dogs (20 to 25 kg) per experiment. Both dogs were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital (25 mg/kg iv bolus) and placed on respirators. One dog supplied oxygenated blood to the heart excise...