Series coupled non-contractile elements are functionally unimportant in the isolated heart.

OBJECTIVE

In order to evaluate possible artefact in interpretations of contractile behaviour in isolated heart experiments, the relative elastances of series coupled non-contractile and contractile components of the left ventricle of the isolated heart were evaluated.

METHODS

Hearts were isolated from ferrets and rabbits and mounted on a servo-controlled volume regulation device. These hearts were made to beat isovolumetrically until a selected volume perturbation was introduced. Constant flow volume withdrawals at two flow values were performed over a period of < 20 ms centred around the time of peak isovolumetric pressure. Three levels of isovolumetric pressure were produced using basal, extrasystolic, and potentiated beats. Pressure responses to volume withdrawals at two flows and three isovolumetric pressures were then analysed using a mathematical model to evaluate relative values of series coupled contractile and non-contractile elastances. To validate the analysis procedure, a non-contractile series artefact with known elastance was coupled to the left ventricle; volume perturbations were then applied to the coupled left ventricle-artefact system; responses were analysed and the estimate of series coupled non-contractile elastance was compared to the known elastance of the added artefact.

RESULTS

A wide range of isovolumetric pressures [208(SD 40) mmHg] was produced in the ferret with basal, extrasystolic, and potentiated beats. A lesser range of isovolumetric pressures [50(15) mmHg] was produced in the rabbit. The mathematical model fitted the data very well in both the ferret and rabbit. The elastance of the series coupled non-contractile component could be estimated only in some ferrets. When estimated in the ferret, the elastance of the series coupled non-contractile component was never less than 4x that of the contractile component. When a series artefact of sufficiently low value was coupled with the native left ventricle, the elastance of the non-contractile component could be reliably estimated in both ferrets and rabbits and the estimated value approximated that of the added artefact. This indicated that the elastance of the series coupled non-contractile component of the native left ventricle was much higher than that of the added artefact.

CONCLUSIONS

The series coupled non-contractile component of the isolated heart possesses a very much higher elastance than the contractile component. In fact, the elastance of the non-contractile component is so great that it contributes very little to the dynamic behaviour of the left ventricle. Virtually all of the elastance of the left ventricle of the isolated heart is due to the contractile component.