Resetting of regional preload due to ventricular shape change alters diastolic and systolic performance

The diastolic and systolic pressure of one ventricle is increased by an increase in volume and/or pressure of the opposite ventricle; however, a mechanism for the ventricular interaction remains unclear. We hypothesized that the shape change of one ventricle elicited by the opposite ventricle would lead to resetting of the regional length, which may explain the ventricular interaction. We used 15 cross-circulated isovolumically contracting canine hearts in which both ventricular volumes were independently controlled. Diastolic regional segment area was calculated by multiplying circumferential and longitudinal lengths on right ventricular free wall (RVFW; n = 6), interventricular septum (IVS; n = 11), and left ventricular (LV) FW (n = 12). The regional area at relatively small volumes of both ventricles were expressed as 100%. With constant RV volume, increasing LV from 7 to 19 ml increased RV diastolic and systolic pressures by 2.7 and 5.5 mmHg, respectively. Conversely, increasing RV volume increased LV...