Effect of Changes in Heart Rate on Left Ventricular Performance in Conscious Dogs

An increase in heart rate produced in 12 conscious dogs by right atrial pacing resulted in a fall of end-diastolic volume, stroke volume, stroke work and end-diastolic pressure. Stroke power and the maximum rate of increase of left ventricular pressure (LV dP/dt max) were affected only slightly. Sudden large changes of rate produced transient changes in LV dP/dt max typical of the positive and negative inotropic effects of activation, but steady-state LV dP/dt max was not affected; these effects persisted after autonomic blockade with propranolol and atropine. Postural changes produced no change in LV dP/dt max even after autonomic blockade. We conclude that in this preparation, the interval-strength relationship has a plateau at the physiologic range of heart rate, i.e., myocardial contractility is unaffected by change in heart rate over the range 90 to 190 beats/min.