The isolated perfused heart preparation: two suggested improvements

Abstract

Abstract A new method of recording the contractions of the isolated perfused heart is described. By “transverse” recording, a signal of simple waveform is obtained from the right ventricle at constant diastolic tension. Changes in heart rate and force of contraction of the rat isolated perfused heart caused by (-)-noradrenaline were measured. Of the three methods of assessing the response: (1) the increment as a percentage of the control record, (2) the increment in absolute units and (3) the increment as a percentage of the maximum, the latter has most pharmacological meaning.