The biochemical and biophysical properties of the normal and failing human heart differ. Tension development of skinned myocardium from the failing heart has been found to be more sensitive to calcium than that from the normal heart, while maximal myofibrillar ATPase activity is depressed in the failing heart. Renal hypertension was induced in rats by employing 2-kidney-1-clip model (2K1C). Blood pressure was recorded by introducing a catheter through the left carotid artery. A Statham p23 DC transducer was used and the pressure was recorded on a Grass Polygraph. The heart was mounted and...