Relation of Increase in Muscle Mass to Performance of Hypertrophied Right Ventricle in the Dog

Right ventricular hypertrophy was produced by chronic constriction (banding) of the pulmonary artery in the dog. Right ventricular muscle mass increased by 40% in 6 to 12 weeks after banding. Maximal work performance of this ventricle also increased; at 12 weeks the mean was 175% more than that of the normal right ventricle. It was concluded that, per unit of gross myocardial mass, the work performance of the hypertrophied right ventricle of the dog was no less than that of the normal right ventricle.