Left ventricular hypertrophy--experimental aspects

Abstract

Different aspects of the myocardial cells in cardiac hypertrophy induced by mechanical overload are described. They depend on the severity of the load. The classical three stages of hypertrophy described by Meerson only occur when overload is moderate. Under more severe load, some cells seem to be in a hyperactive state of growth while other ones are damaged. These alterations remain visible throughout the whole duration of the load. In all cases these lesions are predominant in the subendocardial region of the ventricle.