Homeometric Autoregulation in the Heart

Abstract

The effect of increasing the activity of the ventricle on its contractility was investigated. Several beats after the ventricle increases the amount of tension it develops per unit of time, it exhibits an increased contractility as shown by the increase in work and the more rapid development of pressure from a given end-diastolic pressure or fiber length. This has been termed homeometric autoregulation in contradistinction to the Frank-Starling or heterometric type of autoregulation. It was found that changes in coronary flow are not essential to the exhibition of this phenomenon. Possible mechanisms and the physiologic significance of the findings are discussed.