[Contractile function and some parameters of energy metabolism of the myocardium in the process of adaptation to the effect of moderate continuous stress].

Experiments were conducted on rats to study the dynamics of changes of the heart contractile function (CF) and some indices of myocardial energy metabolism during adaptation to moderate continuous 15-day stress. After 24 hours of stress a complex of shifts typical of an acute stress syndrome (mobilization of CF, reduction of the content of glycogen and creatine phosphate, increase of phosphorylase activity) was recorded. After 5 days of stress the absolute CF value reduced, particularly at rest (doubled), as a consequence of which the relative values of the maximally developing CF on the 5th second of an isometric load induced by compression of the aorta were 1.5 times those in the controls. The content of glycogen and creatine phosphate and the activity of phosphorylase were reduced by 25-30%. After 15 days the CF and the values of myocardial energy metabolism were normalized. Exclusion of the vagal tonus by atropine on the 5th day of stress showed that the low level of CF and reduced phosphorylase activity are not consequent upon heart exhaustion but are regulatory mechanisms.