Characteristics of the hypertrophied left ventricular myocardium in Goldblatt rats.

In Goldblatt rats (GV) 4-24 weeks after coarctation of one renal artery the following characteristics were registered as compared to controls (CV) of the same age: Arterial blood pressure increased to 190-200 mmHg in comparison to 105-110 mmHg in controls. This pressure overload induced an increase in ventricular weights (34%-54%). Noteworthy differences in myocardial water, total protein, and nonprotein substance contents were found. Hydroxyproline concentration in GV did not increase significantly until 24 weeks after onset of pressure overload. No significant alterations were detected in the relationship of myocardial, sarcoplasmic, and stromal protein fractions. However, greater changes could be registered in the concentration of the myofibrillar protein fraction and its single components. Furthermore, a correlative depression in specific actomyosin ATPase activity and in maximum shortening velocity of the unloaded cardiac muscle (2,3) was observed.