Afterload-induced homeometric autoregulation in isolated cardiac muscle

Pressure-induced homeometric autoregulation (HAR) has been demonstrated by many investigators in the mammalian ventricle; In isolated cardiac muscle, however, several investigators have reported the opposite effect (anti-HAR); namely, that the first beat after a transition from isotonic to isometric contraction is the most forceful, with a decline over several beats to a steady state. In the present study we find that trabeculae from the canine right ventricle demonstrate either HAR or anti-HAR, depending on the rate of stimulation, the calcium level, and the temperature. Higher calcium, higher temperature, and lower rate of stimulation produce either less HAR or more anti-HAR. When only temperature and rate of stimulation are varied, in each muscle there is a unique rate for each temperature above which HAR occurs and below which anti-HAR occurs.