Isovolumetric properties of ventricles of spontaneously hypertensive rats

Isovolumetric pressure-producing properties of isolated Langendorf-perfused hypertrophied ventricles from adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were compared with those of nonhypertrophied ventricles from adult Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). SHR ventricles were found to produce greater systolic pressure than WKY ventricles when subjected to similar stimulation and perfusion conditions. Correction for the differences in ventricular mass eliminated the difference between groups. Apparent diastolic pressure at high stimulus rates was higher in SHR than WKY, and SHR developed exaggerated aftercontractions following cessation of high-frequency stimulation. Refractory periods of hypertrophied ventricles determined by paired-pulse stimulation were not found to be different from nonhypertrophied ventricles, but hyperexcitable periods of SHR ventricles were significantly longer than WKY ventricles. In addition, the intrinsic ventricular rate of SHR preparations was significantly greater than that of WKY.