Tension Developed by Papillary Muscles from Hypertrophied Rat Hearts

Papillary muscle strips from hypertrophied left ventricles of 17 rats were tested for tension developed in response to electrical stimulation in a perfused, oxygenated, isometric muscle chamber. The maximum tension developed was significantly greater per unit weight than that developed by papillary muscles from normal ventricles. Greater tension was also developed by the papillary muscles from hypertrophied hearts when tested with an anaerobic perfusate.