The use of isolated myocytes to evaluate myocardial remodeling.

It has been postulated that changes in the gross anatomic features of the heart due to various hemodynamic alterations (for example, pressure or volume overloading) are mirrored by specific changes in myocyte shape. The development of the isolated cardiac myocyte preparation has been instrumental in providing a more consistent and expeditious means for assessing changes in cellular dimensions. Data obtained from isolated myocytes collected from adult rats with various types of hemodynamic overloading confirm that cell shape changes in a consistent and predictable manner and that hypertrophy, rather than hyperplasia, is responsible for the increase in cardiac mass. The use of isolated myocytes should provide answers to many other questions regarding ventricular remodeling.