Abstract
There are only a few studies devoted to the comparative and simultaneous study of the mechanisms of the length-dependent regulation of atrial and ventricular contractility. Therefore, an isometric force-length protocol was applied to isolated guinea pig right atrial (RA) strips and ventricular (RV) trabeculae, with a simultaneous measurement of force (Frank-Starling mechanism) and Ca(2+) transients (CaT) or transmembrane action potentials (AP). Over the entire length-range studied, the duration of isometric contraction, CaT and AP, were shorter in the RA myocardium than in the RV myocardium. The RA myocardium was stiffer than the RV myocardium. With the increasing length of the RA and RV myocardium, the amplitude and duration of isometric contraction and CaT increased, as well as the amplitude and area of the "CaT difference curves" (shown for the first time). However, the rates of the tension development and relaxation decreased. No contribution of AP duration to the heterometric regulation of isometric tension was found in either the RA or RV myocardium of the guinea pig. Changes in the degree of overlap of the contractile proteins of the guinea pig RA and RV myocardium mainly affect CaT kinetics but not AP duration.