From the Research
The Anrep effect is a cardiac compensatory mechanism where the heart maintains its stroke volume despite an increase in afterload, achieved through a two-phase activation of resting myosin for contraction, involving strain-sensitive and posttranslational phases, as recently described in the study by 1. This mechanism is crucial for maintaining cardiac output when faced with increased resistance in the circulatory system. The Anrep effect is characterized by an initial decrease in stroke volume, followed by an increase in cardiac contractility within 1-2 minutes, which helps to restore output. Some key points about the Anrep effect include:
- It is an intrinsic adaptation of the heart muscle itself, independent of neural or hormonal influences, as noted in the study by 2.
- The effect is named after Russian physiologist Gleb von Anrep, who first described this phenomenon in the early 20th century.
- The Anrep effect is closely related to the Frank-Starling law, which describes the heart's ability to adjust to changing mechanical loads, as discussed in the study by 3.
- Recent studies, such as the one by 4, have shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the Anrep effect, including the role of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) activity and oxidative stress.
- The Anrep effect has important implications for our understanding of cardiac physiology and pathophysiology, particularly in conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, as highlighted in the study by 1.
- The effect is characterized by a unique signature, including enhanced contractility and a prolonged systolic ejection time, which can be detected using noninvasive echocardiographic pressure-volume measurements, as demonstrated in the study by 1.