Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 20, 2026

A Pacing-Controlled Procedure for the Assessment of Heart Rate-Dependent Diastolic Functions in Murine Heart Failure Models
07:49

A Pacing-Controlled Procedure for the Assessment of Heart Rate-Dependent Diastolic Functions in Murine Heart Failure Models

Published on: July 21, 2023

[From ischaemia to heart failure: heart rate--actor or stamper?]

Philippe Lechat1

  • 1Service de Pharmacologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France. philippe.lechat@psl.ap-hop-paris.fr

Therapie
|January 15, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Slowing heart rate with If channel blockers like ivabradine offers new therapeutic options. Combination therapy with beta-blockers may achieve lower heart rates than beta-blockers alone for cardiovascular conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Electrophysiology
  • Pharmacology

Context:

  • Heart rate in sinus rhythm is determined by If current-induced automaticity of sinus node cells.
  • Sympathetic and parasympathetic tones modulate this current, influencing heart rate.
  • Baseline heart rate and variability have prognostic value in coronary heart disease and heart failure.

Purpose:

  • To explore the direct modulation of myocardial oxygen consumption and cardiac contractility by heart rate.
  • To review the therapeutic implications of pharmacological heart rate modulation.
  • To investigate novel therapeutic perspectives offered by direct action on sinus node automaticity.

Summary:

  • Heart rate directly impacts myocardial oxygen consumption and cardiac contractility via excitation-contraction coupling.
  • Pharmacological strategies primarily focus on slowing heart rate, using agents like calcium antagonists and beta-blockers.
  • Ivabradine, an If channel blocker, offers a new approach by directly targeting sinus node automaticity.

Impact:

  • New therapeutic strategies for heart rate management are emerging.
  • Combination therapy with If channel blockers and beta-blockers may yield superior heart rate reduction compared to beta-blockers alone.
  • This approach holds promise for improved outcomes in cardiovascular diseases.

More Related Videos

Implantation of an Isoproterenol Mini-Pump to Induce Heart Failure in Mice05:08

Implantation of an Isoproterenol Mini-Pump to Induce Heart Failure in Mice

Published on: October 3, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Heart Failure I: Introduction01:27

Heart Failure I: Introduction

Heart failure refers to a clinical syndrome caused by structural or functional cardiac disorders that prevent the heart from pumping an adequate amount of blood to meet the body's metabolic needs. This condition often arises from myocardial infarction or ischemia, leading to decreased cardiac output, reduced tissue perfusion, impaired gas exchange, fluid volume imbalance, and decreased functional ability.Heart failure can result from disruptions in the mechanisms that regulate cardiac output...
Imbalances in Cardiac Output01:26

Imbalances in Cardiac Output

The heart's primary function is to pump blood throughout the body, maintaining a balance between blood sent out (cardiac output) and blood returning (venous return). If this balance is disrupted, it can result in congestive heart failure (CHF), a severe condition where the heart becomes an inefficient pump, leading to inadequate blood circulation.
CHF can occur due to the failure of either side of the heart. Left-side failure leads to pulmonary congestion—the right side continues to send blood...
Heart Failure IV: Classification and Diagnostic Evaluation01:30

Heart Failure IV: Classification and Diagnostic Evaluation

Heart failure can be classified in various ways, with the most common classifications based on physical activity limitations, disease progression, severity, and treatment strategies.The Functional Classification of Heart Failure divides patients into four categories based on physical activity limitation due to symptom burden.Class I: Patients in this class have cardiac disease but no physical activity limitations. Ordinary activities like walking, climbing stairs, or routine tasks do not cause...
Pathophysiology of Heart Failure01:17

Pathophysiology of Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a progressive syndrome involving ventricles that leads to inadequate cardiac output. It can be classified based on location and output or ejection fraction. Ejection fraction (EF) is an essential measurement in the diagnosis and surveillance of HF. Reduced EF corresponds to systolic heart failure (HFrEF). However, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is becoming increasingly prevalent. Also known as diastolic HF, this form of HF is related to aging. The...
Ischemic Heart Disease: Overview01:17

Ischemic Heart Disease: Overview

Ischemic heart disease occurs when the heart's blood supply dwindles, causing an ominous lack of oxygen and nutrients. This deficiency, stemming from reduced or obstructed blood flow, spells danger, leading to heart muscle damage and dysfunction.
Atherosclerosis, the primary malefactor, orchestrates this dangerous condition. It manifests as the accumulation of fatty deposits, akin to insidious plaques, within arterial walls. As time elapses, these plaques metamorphose, hardening and narrowing...
Pathophysiology of Cardiac Performance01:29

Pathophysiology of Cardiac Performance

Typical heart performance is influenced by heart rate, rhythm, myocardial contraction, and metabolism or blood flow. The cardiac muscle exhibits distinct electrophysiological features, including pacemaker activity and calcium channel control, which play a vital role in the heart's response to various drugs. The autonomic nervous system, comprising the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches, regulates heart rate. Sympathetic activation increases heart rate, while parasympathetic activation...