Myocardial inotropic responses and adrenoceptors in protein‐deficient rats

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Abstract
1 Inotropic effects of isoprenaline, phenylephrine and calcium were studied in left atria of 5 weeks old rats fed a low (5%) or a normal (21%) protein diet for 3 weeks. Rats maintained on a low (5%) protein diet consume about half the amount of food eaten by the same rats maintained on a normal (21%) protein diet and thus suffer from protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM). 2 Body weight did not increase in PCM, but heart weight adjusted to body weight was slightly increased compared to normal rats. 3 Atrial resting tension and peak developed tension in response to isoprenaline, phenylephrine or calcium were not diminished by PCM. 4 The number of a and β-adrenoceptors and the receptor affinity in ventricular membranes were not reduced by PCM.