Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Slow contractions characterize failing rat hearts

  • ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION
  • Published:
Basic Research in Cardiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The reduced power of the failing heart can be ascribed to a combination of reduced force and slower contraction. We hypothesized that these two properties are due to different cellular mechanisms. We measured contraction parameters both in vivo and in isolated left ventricular (LV) cardiomyocytes from a rat model of post infarction congestive heart failure (CHF). ECG was measured simultaneously with echocardiography and LV pressure, respectively. Shortening and shortening velocity (SV) in isolated cardiomyocytes were measured during different stimulation protocols. LV end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was 24.6 ± 0.7 mmHg in CHF. LV systolic pressure was decreased by 20%, maximum rate of pressure development in the LV (+dP/dt max) by 36% and time in systole increased by 20% in CHF compared to sham. Electrical remodelling occurred in CHF cells, which were depolarized and had prolonged action potentials (AP) compared to sham cells. Fractional shortening (FS) was increased in CHF compared to sham independent of stimulation protocol. Larger FS was accompanied by increased sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ load and depended on the electrical remodelling. Time to peak contraction (TTP) was increased in CHF compared to sham cells, but in contrast to FS, TTP was only slightly affected when the cells were stimulated with sham APs and sham diastolic membrane potential (DMP). Contraction duration (corresponding to systolic duration) was 25% longer in CHF than in sham independent on stimulation protocol. We conclude that electrical remodelling affecting DMP and AP duration (APD) significantly affects the size of contraction, whereas the mechanism for slowing of contraction in CHF is different.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Akar FG, Wu RC, Juang GJ, Tian Y, Burysek M, DiSilvestre D, Xiong W, Armoundas AA, Tomaselli GF (2005) Molecular mechanisms underlying K+ current downregulation in canine tachycardia-induced heart failure. AJP Heart Circ Physiol 288:H2887–H2896

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. An WF, Bowlby MR, Betty M, Cao J, Ling H-P, Mendoza G, Hinson JW, Mattsson KI, Strassle BW, Trimmer JS, Rhodes KJ (2000) Modulation of A-type potassium channels by a family of calcium sensors. Nature 403:553–556

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Anand IS, Liu D, Chugh SS, Prahash AJC, Gupta S, John R, Popescu F, Chandrashekhar Y (1997) Isolated myocyte contractile function is normal in postinfarct remodeled rat heart with systolic dysfunction. Circulation 96:3974–3984

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Armoundas AA, Hobai IA, Tomaselli GF, Winslow RL, O’Rourke B (2003) Role of sodium–calcium exchanger in modulating the action potential of ventricular myocytes from normal and failing hearts. Circ Res 93:46–53

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Armoundas AA, Rose J, Aggarwal R, Stuyvers BD, O’Rourke B, Kass DA, Marbán E, Shorofsky SR, Tomaselli GF, Balke CW (2007) Cellular and molecular determinants of altered Ca2+ handling in the failing rabbit heart: primary defects in SR Ca2+ uptake and release mechanisms. AJP Heart Circ Physiol 292:H1607–H1618

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Armoundas AA, Wu R, Juang G, Marbán E, Tomaselli GF (2001) Electrical and structural remodeling of the failing ventricle. Pharmacol Therapeutics 92:213–230

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Baker C, Love CJ, Moeschberger ML, Orsinelli DA, Yamokoski L, Leier CV (2004) Time intervals of cardiac resynchronization therapy in heart failure. Am J Cardiol 94:1192–1196

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Bassani JWM, Yuan W, Bers DM (1995) Fractional SR Ca release is regulated by trigger Ca and SR Ca content in cardiac myocytes. AJP Cell Physiol 268:C1313–C1329

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Belin RJ, Sumandea MP, Kobayashi T, Walker LA, Rundell VL, Urboniene D, Yuzhakova M, Ruch SH, Geenen DL, Solaro RJ, de Tombe PP (2006) Left ventricular myofilament dysfunction in rat experimental hypertrophy and congestive heart failure. AJP Heart Circulat Physiol 291:H2344–H2353

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Bers DM (2001) Excitation–contraction coupling and cardiac contractile force. Kluwer, Dordrecht

    Google Scholar 

  11. Blanc-Guillemaud V, Beck L, Cherif OK, Champeroux P, Richard S, Davy J-M (2005) Cellular electrophysiological changes in rats with heart failure and ventricular arrhythmias—in vitro–in vivo correlations. J Clin Basic Cardiol 8:23–28

    Google Scholar 

  12. Bøkenes J, Sjaastad I, Sejersted OM (2005) Artifactual contractions triggered by field stimulation of cardiomyocytes. J Appl Physiol 98:1712–1719

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Bøkenes J, Sjaastad I, Sejersted OM (2002) Contraction characteristics of failing rat cardiomyocytes. Biophys J 82:601a

    Google Scholar 

  14. Bouchard RA, Clark RB, Giles WR (1993) Regulation of unloaded cell shortening by sarcolemmal sodium–calcium exchange in isolated rat ventricular myocytes. J Physiol (Lond) 469:583–599

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Bouchard R, Clark RB, Juhasz AE, Giles WR (2004) Changes in extracellular K+ concentration modulate contractility of rat and rabbit cardiac myocytes via the inward rectifier K+ current I K1. J Physiol (Lond) 556:773–790

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Capasso JM, Li P, Anversa P (1993) Cytosolic calcium transients in myocytes isolated from rats with ischemic heart failure. AJP Heart Circ Physiol 265:H1953–H1964

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Chen W, Gibson D (1979) Mechanisms of prolongation of pre-ejection period in patients with left ventricular disease. Br Heart J 42:304–310

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Chen X, Piacentino V III, Furukawa S, Goldman B, Margulies KB, Houser SR (2002) L-type Ca2+ channel density and regulation are altered in failing human ventricular myocytes and recover after support with mechanical assist devices. Circ Res 91:517–524

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Chu G, Carr AN, Young KB, Lester JW, Yatani A, Sanbe A, Colbert MC, Schwartz SM, Frank KF, Lampe PD, Robbins J, Molkentin JD, Kranias EG (2002) Enhanced myocyte contractility and Ca2+ handling in a calcineurin transgenic model of heart failure. Cardiovasc Res 54:105–116

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Cordeiro JM, Greene L, Heilmann C, Antzelevitch D, Antzelevitch C (2004) Transmural heterogeneity of calcium activity and mechanical function in the canine left ventricle. AJP Heart Circ Physiol 286:H1471–H1479

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Dêschenes I, DiSilvestre D, Juang GJ, Wu RC, An WF, Tomaselli GF (2002) Regulation of Kv4.3 current by KChIP2 splice variants: a component of native cardiac I to? Circulation 106:423–429

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Despa S, Islam MA, Weber CR, Pogwizd SM, Bers DM (2002) Intracellular Na+ concentration is elevated in heart failure but Na/K pump function is unchanged. Circulation 105:2543–2548

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Eisner DA, Diaz ME, Li Y, O’Neill SC, Trafford AW (2005) Stability and instability of regulation of intracellular calcium. Exp Physiol 90:3–12

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. El-Chami MF, Pernetz MA, Howell S, Arita T, Martin RP, Lerakis S (2006) The use of echocardiography for the evaluation of dyssynchrony. Am J Med Sci 331:315–319

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Fukumoto GH, Lamp ST, Motter C, Bridge JHB, Garfinkel A, Goldhaber JI (2005) Metabolic inhibition alters subcellular calcium release patterns in rat ventricular myocytes: implications for defective excitation–contraction coupling during cardiac ischemia and failure. Circ Res 96:551–557

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Gaughan JP, Furukawa S, Jeevanandam V, Hefner CA, Kubo H, Margulies KB, McGowan BS, Mattiello JA, Dipla K, Piacentino V III, Li S, Houser SR (1999) Sodium/calcium exchange contributes to contraction and relaxation in failed human ventricular myocytes. AJP Heart Circulat Physiol 277:H714–H724

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Gelband H, Bassett AL (1973) Depressed transmembrane potentials during experimentally induced ventricular failure in cats. Circ Res 32:625–635

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Gómez AM, Valdivia HH, Cheng H, Lederer MR, Santana LF, Cannell MB, McCune SA, Altschuld RA, Lederer WJ (1997) Defective excitation–contraction coupling in experimental cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. Science 276:800–806

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Gómez AM, Guatimosim S, Dilly KW, Vassort G, Lederer WJ (2001) Heart failure after myocardial infarction. Altered excitation–contraction coupling. Circulation 104:688–693

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Gupta S, Prahash AJC, Anand IS (2000) Myocyte contractile function is intact in the post-infarct remodeled rat heart despite molecular alterations. Cardiovasc Res 48:77–88

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Herron TJ, McDonald KS (2002) Small amounts of a-myosin heavy chain isoform expression significantly increase power output of rat cardiac myocyte fragments. Circ Res 90:1150–1152

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Hilal-Dandan R, Kanter JR, Brunton LL (2000) Characterization of G-protein signaling in ventricular myocytes from the adult mouse heart: differences from the rat. J Mol Cell Cardiol 32:1211–1221

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Hobai IA, O’Rourke B (2001) Decreased sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium content is responsible for defective excitation–contraction coupling in canine heart failure. Circulation 103:1577–1584

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Holt E, Tønnessen T, Lunde PK, Semb SO, Wasserstrom JA, Sejersted OM, Christensen G (1998) Mechanisms of cardiomyocyte dysfunction in heart failure following myocardial infarction in rats. J Mol Cell Cardiol 30:1581–1593

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Huang B, El-Sherif T, Gidh-Jain MV, Qin D, El-Sherif N (2001) Alterations of sodium channel kinetics and gene expression in the postinfarction remodeled myocardium. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 12:218–225

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Josephson IR, Sanchez-Chapula J, Brown AM (1984) Early outward current in rat single ventricular cells. Circ Res 54:157–162

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Kaprielian R, Wickenden AD, Kassiri Z, Parker TG, Liu PP, Backx PH (1999) Relationship between K+ channel down-regulation and [Ca2+]i in rat ventricular myocytes following myocardial infarction. J Physiol (Lond) 517:229–245

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Kuo H-C, Cheng C-F, Clark RB, Lin JJC, Lin JLC, Hoshijima M, Nguyên-Trân VTB, Gu Y, Ikeda Y, Chu P-H (2001) A defect in the Kv channel-interacting protein 2 (KChIP2) gene leads to a complete loss of I to and confers susceptibility to ventricular tachycardia. Cell 107:801–813

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Lines GT, Sande JB, Louch WE, Mørk HK, Grøttum P, Sejersted OM (2006) Contribution of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger to rapid Ca2+ release in cardiomyocytes. Biophys J 91:779–792

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Liu X-S, Jiang M, Zhang M, Tang D, Clemo HF, Higgins RSD, Tseng G-N (2007) Electrical remodeling in a canine model of ischemic cardiomyopathy. AJP Heart Circ Physiol 292:H560–H571

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Loennechen JP, Wisløff U, Falck G, Ellingsen ø (2002) Cardiomyocyte contractility and calcium handling partially recover after early deterioration during post-infarction failure in rat. Acta Physiol Scand 176:17–26

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Louch WE, Bito V, Heinzel FR, Macianskiene R, Vanhaecke J, Flameng W, Mubagwa K, Sipido KR (2004) Reduced synchrony of Ca2+ release with loss of T-tubules—a comparison to Ca2+ release in human failing cardiomyocytes. Cardiovasc Res 62:63–73

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Louch WE, Mørk HK, Sexton J, Strømme TA, Laake P, Sjaastad I, Sejersted OM (2006) T-tubule disorganization and reduced synchrony of Ca2+ release in murine cardiomyocytes following myocardial infarction. J Physiol (Lond) 574:519–533

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Maack C, O’Rourke B (2007) Excitation–contraction coupling and mitochondrial energetics. Basic Res Cardiol 102:369–392

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Maier LS, Braunhälter J, Horn W, Weichert S, Pieske B (2002) The role of SR Ca2+-content in blunted inotropic responsiveness of failing human myocardium. J Mol Cell Cardiol 34:455–467

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Maltsev VA, Silverman N, Sabbah HN, Undrovinas AI (2007) Chronic heart failure slows late sodium current in human and canine ventricular myocytes: implications for repolarization variability. Eur J Heart Failure 9:219–227

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Matsumoto T, Hisamatsu Y, Ohkusa T, Inoue N, Sato T, Suzuki S, Ikeda Y, Matsuzaki M (2005) Sorcin interacts with sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase and modulates excitation–contraction coupling in the heart. Basic Res Cardiol 100:250–262

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Matsuno Y, Morioka S, Murakami Y, Kobayashi S, Moriyama K (1988) Mechanism of prolongation of pre-ejection period in the hypertrophied left ventricle with normal systolic function in unanesthetized hypertensive dogs. Clin Cardiol 11:702–706

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Okuyama Y, Yamada M, Kondo C, Satoh E, Isomoto S, Shindo T, Horio Y, Kitakaze M, Hori M, Kurachi Y (1998) The effects of nucleotides and potassium channel openers on the SUR2A/Kir6.2 complex K+ channel expressed in a mammalian cell line, HEK293T cells. Pflügers Arch 435:595–603

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Patel SP, Parai R, Parai R, Campbell DL (2004) Regulation of Kv4.3 voltage-dependent gating kinetics by KChIP2 isoforms. J Physiol (Lond) 557:19–41

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Piacentino V III, Weber CR, Chen X, Weisser-Thomas J, Margulies KB, Bers DM, Houser SR (2003) Cellular basis of abnormal calcium transients of failing human ventricular myocytes. Circ Res 92:651–658

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Picht E, DeSantiago J, Blatter LA, Bers DM (2006) Cardiac alternans do not rely on diastolic sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium content fluctuations. Circ Res 99:740–748

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Rose J, Armoundas AA, Tian Y, DiSilvestre D, Burysek M, Halperin V, O’Rourke B, Kass DA, Marbán E, Tomaselli GF (2005) Molecular correlates of altered expression of potassium currents in failing rabbit myocardium. AJP Heart Circ Physiol 288:H2077–H2087

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Sah R, Ramirez RJ, Backx PH (2002) Modulation of Ca2+ release in cardiac myocytes by changes in repolarization rate. Role of phase-1 action potential repolarization in excitation–contraction coupling. Circ Res 90:165–173

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Sah R, Ramirez RJ, Kaprielian R, Backx PH (2001) Alterations in action potential profile enhance excitation–contraction coupling in rat cardiac myocytes. J Physiol (Lond) 533:201–214

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Sah R, Ramirez RJ, Oudit GY, Gidrewicz D, Trivieri MG, Zobel C, Backx PH (2003) Regulation of cardiac excitation–contraction coupling by action potential repolarization: role of the transient outward potassium current (I to). J Physiol (Lond) 546:5–18

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Sande JB, Sjaastad I, Hoen IB, Bøkenes J, Tønnessen T, Holt E, Lunde PK, Christensen G (2002) Reduced level of serine16 phosphorylated phospholamban in the failing rat myocardium: a major contributor to reduced SERCA2 activity. Cardiovasc Res 53:382–391

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Schillinger W, Teucher N, Christians C, Kohlhaas M, Sossalla S, Van Nguyen P, Schmidt AG, Schunck O, Nebendahl K, Maier LS, Zeitz O, Hasenfuss G (2006) High intracellular Na+ preserves myocardial function at low heart rates in isolated myocardium from failing hearts. Eur J Heart Failure 8:673–680

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Schoemaker RG, Smits JFM (1990) Systolic time intervals as indicators for cardiac function in rat models for heart failure. Eur Heart J 11:114–123

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Schröder F, Handrock R, Beuckelmann DJ, Hirt S, Hullin R, Priebe L, Schwinger RHG, Weil J, Herzig S (1998) Increased availability and open probability of single L-type calcium channels from failing compared with nonfailing human ventricle. Circulation 98:969–976

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Sen L, Cui G, Fonarow GC, Laks H (2000) Differences in mechanisms of SR dysfunction in ischemic vs. idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. AJP Heart Circ Physiol 279:H709–H718

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Sjaastad I, Bentzen JG, Semb SO, Ilebekk A, Sejersted OM (2002) Reduced calcium tolerance in rat cardiomyocytes after myocardial infarction. Acta Physiol Scand 175:261–269

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Sjaastad I, Birkeland JA, Ferrier G, Howlett S, Skomedal T, Bjørnerheim R, Wasserstrom JA, Sejersted OM (2005) Defective excitation-contraction coupling in hearts of rats with congestive heart failure. Acta Physiol Scand 184:45–58

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Sjaastad I, Bøkenes J, Swift F, Wasserstrom JA, Sejersted OM (2002) Normal contractions triggered by I Ca,L in ventricular myocytes from rats with postinfarction congestive heart failure. AJP Heart Circ Physiol 283:H1225–H1236

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Sjaastad I, Sejersted OM, Ilebekk A, Bjørnerheim R (2000) Echocardiographic criteria for detection of postinfarction congestive heart failure in rats. J Appl Physiol 89:1445–1454

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  66. Sjaastad I, Wasserstrom JA, Sejersted OM (2003) Heart failure—a challenge to our current concepts of excitation–contraction coupling. J Physiol (Lond ) 546:33–47

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Smith GL, Elliott EEB, Kettlewell S, Currie S, Quinn FR (2006) Na+/Ca2+ exchanger expression and function in a rabbit model of myocardial infarction. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 17:S57–S63

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Song L-S, Sobie EA, McCulle SL, Lederer WJ, Balke CW, Cheng H (2006) Orphaned ryanodine receptors in the failing heart. PNAS 103:4305–4310

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Spragg DD, Kass DA (2006) Pathobiology of left ventricular dyssynchrony and resynchronization. Prog Cardiovasc Dis 49:26–41

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Stelzer JE, Brickson SL, Locher MR, Moss RL (2007) Role of myosin heavy chain composition in the stretch activation response of rat myocardium. J Physiol 579:161–173

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  71. Su Z, Yao A, Zubair I, Sugishita K, Ritter M, Li F, Hunter JJ, Chien KR, Barry WH (2001) Effects of deletion of muscle LIM protein on myocyte function. AJP Heart Circ Physiol 280:H2665–H2673

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  72. Tamargo J, Caballero R, Gómez R, Valenzuela C, Delpón E (2004) Pharmacology of cardiac potassium channels. Cardiovasc Res 62:9–33

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. Tseng G-N, Robinson RB, Hoffman BF (1987) Passive properties and membrane currents of canine ventricular myocytes. J Gen Physiol 90:671–701

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  74. Valdivia CR, Chu WW, Pu J, Foell JD, Haworth RA, Wolff MR, Kamp TJ, Makielski JC (2005) Increased late sodium current in myocytes from a canine heart failure model and from failing human heart. J Mol Cell Cardiol 38:475–483

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  75. van der Meer P, Lipsic E, Henning RH, Boddeus K, van der Velden J, Voors AA, van Veldhuisen DJ, van Gilst WH, Schoemaker RG (2005) Erythropoietin induces neovascularization and improves cardiac function in rats with heart failure after myocardial infarction. J Am Coll Cardiol 46:125–133

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  76. Varro A, Negretti N, Hester SB, Eisner DA (1993) An estimate of the calcium content of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in rat ventricular myocytes. Pflügers Arch 423:158–160

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  77. Wang H, Yan Y, Liu Q, Huang Y, Shen Y, Chen L, Chen Y, Yang Q, Hao Q, Wang K, Chai J (2007) Structural basis for modulation of Kv4 K+ channels by auxiliary KChIP subunits. Nat Neurosci 10:32–39

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  78. Wasserstrom JA, Holt E, Sjaastad I, Lunde PK, Ødegaard A, Sejersted OM (2000) Altered E-C coupling in rat ventricular myocytes from failing hearts 6 wk after MI. AJP Heart Circ Physiol 279:H798–H807

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  79. Yamamoto T, Yano M, Kohno M, Hisaoka T, Ono K, Tanigawa T, Saiki Y, Hisamatsu Y, Ohkusa T, Matsuzaki M (1999) Abnormal Ca2+ release from cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum in tachycardia-induced heart failure. Cardiovasc Res 44:146–155

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  80. Zicha S, Xiao L, Stafford S, Cha TJ, Han W, Varro A, Nattel S (2004) Transmural expression of transient outward potassium current subunits in normal and failing canine and human hearts. J Physiol (Lond) 561:735–748

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Dr. Russell Crawford (University of Dundee, UK) for his generous gift of the Kir6.2 antibody. We would also like to thank Annlaug Ødegaard, Kathrine Andersen, Line Solberg and Fredrik Swift for expert technical assistance, Ståle Nygård for help with the statistics and Tævje StrØmme for preparing the programs in MatLab. Financial support was provided by The National Council of Heart Disease, Ullevaal University Hospital, University of Oslo and Anders Jahre’s Fund for Promotion of Science.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Experimental Medical Research, Ullevaal University Hospital, 0407, Oslo, Norway

    Janny Bøkenes, Jan Magnus Aronsen, Jon Arne Birkeland, Unni Lie Henriksen, William E. Louch, Ivar Sjaastad & Ole M. Sejersted

  2. Center for Heart Failure Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Janny Bøkenes, Jan Magnus Aronsen, Jon Arne Birkeland, Unni Lie Henriksen, William E. Louch, Ivar Sjaastad & Ole M. Sejersted

  3. Dept. of Cardiology, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway

    Ivar Sjaastad

Authors
  1. Janny Bøkenes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jan Magnus Aronsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jon Arne Birkeland
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Unni Lie Henriksen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. William E. Louch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ivar Sjaastad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Ole M. Sejersted
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Janny Bøkenes.

Additional information

Returned for 1. Revision: 1 October 2007 1. Revision received: 11 January 2008

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bøkenes, J., Aronsen, J.M., Birkeland, J.A. et al. Slow contractions characterize failing rat hearts. Basic Res Cardiol 103, 328–344 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00395-008-0719-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00395-008-0719-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation