Myocardial stunning analyzed by a single muscle fiber model

Mechanisms underlying myocardial stunning are yet to be clarified. We investigated this with a computer model in conjunction with experimental data obtained from canine subjects. A modified Hill´s 3-element muscle model was subjected to parametric changes similar to regional ventricular measurements and perturbed by reductions in contractility and rates of activation and deactivation. Results show that many of the myocardial stunning features can be reproduced even in a single muscle fiber model.