Myocardial mechanical alterations during gradual onset long-term hypertension in rats.

Although a suddenly produced load leads to depressed myocardial contractility, the effects of a slowly induced physiological overload have not been defined. Therefore, a more gradual pressure overload was produced in female Wistar rats by hypertension due to constriction of the left renal artery. Hypertension (systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 150 mmHg) developed within 3 wk, and blood pressure continued to increase for the next 5 wk. Heart weights in hypertensive animals were elevated by 34% after the onset of hypertension. Isometric and isotonic contractions from left ventricular papillary muscles were recorded at 5, 10, 20, and 30 wk after the onset of hypertension. Total and actively developed isometric tension at all initial muscle lengths were significantly greater in hypertensive animals throughout the 30-wk period. Time to peak tension and time to half relaxation were significantly prolonged. Force-velocity curves demonstrated a significant depression in velocity of shortening at all relative loads in hypertensive muscles that progressed with the duration of hypertension. These studies suggest that myocardial hypertrophy may impart the ability to maintain ventricular performance in terms of force development while speed of shortening decays.