Abstract
Strips of papillary muscles from the left ventricle of rats were stretched by weights of increasing size. Extensibility of the myocardium was characterized by plotting lengthening of the strips as a function of load. Extensibility of the myocardium was considerably increased 7–11 weeks after the beginning of regular physical exercises (swimming for periods of 30–60 min). As a result the maximal amplitude of the contractions, was reached in response to a smaller stretching force. The increased extensibility of the heart muscle may be one of the factors in the dilatation of the “trained” heart and the more rapid mobilization of its contractile function during physical exertion.
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Kapel'ko, V.I., Pfeiffer, C. & Meerson, F.Z. Extensibility of heart muscle during adaptation to physical exertion. Bull Exp Biol Med 82, 1290–1292 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00799451
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00799451