[Morphofunctional basis of development of the "hypertonic heart"]

The morphofunctional analysis of the work of the heart in the time course of experimental arterial hypertension showed that three pathogenetic stages could be clearly distinguished in the formation of "hypertension heart": the stage of formation (1st-4th week) when marked signs of overloading are noted in the myocardium and compensatory-adaptative changes begin to develop; the stage of compensation (6th-10th week) when the process is stabilized and the adaptative changes are marked in the heart muscle, particularly myocardial hypertrophy; and the stage of decompensation (22nd-52nd week) when destructive changes develop in the myocardium and its contractile capacity weakens.