Progression from ventricular hypertrophy to failure has been well-described, and recently includes molecular changes such as altered glucose metabolism and calcium handling. However, functional correlates of molecular changes using non-invasive indices have not been made.

Methods: To establish 1) earliest non-invasive indices of contractile dysfunction and 2) molecular changes associated with progression of hypertrophy to myocyte failure, 12 rabbits (aged 7-10 days) underwent aortic banding. Transthoracic echocardiography and optical plethysmography were performed weekly. Load-dependent and -independent measures of myocardial function were derived using the linear relationship between shortening fraction and end-systolic stress (SVI). Western immunoblotting of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) and measurement of glucose transport (31P-NMR) were also performed.

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