Oscillation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate concentration during the myocardial contraction cycle.

The concentration of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) rises and falls during each myocardial contraction cycle. Peak concentrations of cyclic AMP precede peak development of systolic tension. Epinephrine alters the normal oscillation in myocardial cyclic AMP and increases both diastolic and systolic concentrations of the cyclic nucleotide. These transient changes in myocardial cyclic AMP indicate a potential role for cyclic AMP as a beat-to-beat regulator of myocardial contractility.