Left ventricular systolic torsion and early diastolic filling by echocardiography in normal humans.

This study describes a novel 2-dimensional echocardiographic technique to measure left ventricular (LV) systolic twist in humans and relates this measure to early ventricular filling. LV twist is the counterclockwise rotation of the left ventricle during systole when viewed from the apex. The effect of ventricular twist has been postulated to store potential energy, which ultimately aids in diastolic recoil, leading to ventricular suction.

Papillary muscle fractional shortening is a determinant of heart shape in patients with prior myocardial infarction.

To examine the relation between papillary muscle fractional shortening and heart shape, we performed quantitative echocardiography in 20 patients with prior myocardial infarction and 20 normal control subjects. Papillary muscle fractional shortening was markedly depressed in infarction patients and there was a high degree of correlation between papillary muscle fractional shortening and left ventricular shape, which was evident over a wide range of ejection fraction and shape.

In situ hybridization for LHRH mRNA following estrogen treatment.

Elucidation of mechanisms governing the synthesis and release of the decapeptide luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) in the female are central for understanding how the brain influences the ovulatory surge of luteinizing hormone and facilitates female rat mating behavior. Previous immunocytochemical results suggested that estrogen treatment might increase LHRH forebrain content, but measures of peptide content often are confounded by alterations in synthesis versus peptide processing versus release. Therefore, we have used in situ hybridization with an oligomer for the LHRH coding region to detect LHRH gene expressing cells and to study LHRH message levels in estrogen treated compared to control ovariectomized rats.