The relationship of mechanical Vmax to myosin ATPase activity in rabbit and marmot ventricular muscle.

Papillary muscle mechanics and ventricular myosin calcium-activated ATPase activity were measured in the same heart as a function of temperature (8--28 degrees) in rabbits and marmots, in order to examine further the hypothesis that the velocity of cardiac muscle shortening at zero load (Vmax) is correlated with myosin ATPase activity. There was a similar Q10 for Vmax in each muscle type, as measured with isotonic afterloaded quick-releases at 30--33% time-to-peak tension; the calcium activated ATPase of myosin in the two muscle types also was similar. The least squares linear regression of rabbit Vmax on calcium-activated myosin ATPase activity was the same as in the marmot, so all the data were pooled to yield a linear regression (Y = 0.47 +/- 3.82X) with a high correlation between the two variables [r = 0.95, P less than 0.01 (ANOV)]. Furthermore, the correlation proved to be predictive of cardiac Vmax and myosin ATPase activity levels in other experiments where these two measurements decreased below normal as a result of hypertrophic growth. Consequently, the quantitative relationship between Vmax and myosin ATPase defined here may prove to be predictive of the ability of cardiac muscle to release bond energy.