Differences in Effects of Length-Dependent Regulation of Force and Ca[sup.2+] Transient in the Myocardial Trabeculae of the Rat Right Atrium and Ventricle

The comparative differences in the fundamental mechanisms of contractility regulation and calcium handling of atrial and ventricular myocardium remain poorly studied. An isometric force-length protocol was performed for the entire range of preloads in isolated rat right atrial (RA) and ventricular (RV) trabeculae with simultaneous measurements of force (Frank-Starling mechanism) and Ca[sup.2+] transients (CaT). Differences were found between length-dependent effects in RA and RV muscles: (a) the RA muscles were stiffer, faster, and presented with weaker active force than the RV muscles throughout the preload range; (b) the active/passive force-length relationships were almost linear for the RA and RV muscles; (c) the value of the relative length-dependent growth of passive/active mechanical tension did not differ between the RA and RV muscles; (d) the time-to-peak and amplitude of CaT did not differ between the RA and RV muscles; (e) the CaT decay phase was essentially monotonic and almost independent of preload in the RA muscles, but not in the RV muscles. Higher peak tension, prolonged isometric twitch, and CaT in the RV muscle may be the result of higher Ca[sup.2+] buffering by myofilaments. The molecular mechanisms that constitute the Frank-Starling mechanism are common in the rat RA and RV myocardium.