Summary
The left atrium of the guinea-pig, isolated functionally by ligatures from the other cardiac cavities, was perfused continuously (Krebs-Henseleit solution, O2 saturated, 37°C, pH 7.4) through the pulmonary veins and stimulated artificially (at a rate of 120/min) during a period of 8 h. Isovolumetric pressure amplitudes were recorded each 1/2 h at various rates of stimulation (60 to 240/min).
Results. Frequency potentiation is not pronounced within the first 1/2 h after isolation, but develops almost to its full extent after 5 h of perfusion, mainly owing to a decline of the amplitudes at lower rates, combined with a prolongation in peak time and with a decay of the rates of pressure change during the rising and falling phase of contraction. Noradrenaline added after 71/2 h to the perfusion fluid (10−6 mol/l), restores almost completely the contractile state of the preparation, as observed in the first records after isolation. A possible correlation between the depletion of noradrenaline stores and the development of frequency potentiation is discussed.
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This study has been supported by the “Stiftung Volkswagenwerk” and the “Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft”.
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Baumann, K., Reichel, H. Time dependence of frequency potentiation in the isolated guinea-pig's atrium. Pflugers Arch. 350, 69–80 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00586739
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00586739