Fig. 2. End-diastolic pressure–length relations in nonischemic myocardium in the posterior wall ( top ) and at the base ( bottom ) before and during coronary occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery in a typical animal. Data were obtained from consecutive beats during occlusion of the cava vein. Note that during occlusion, all data above the end-diastolic pressure of the baseline state are discarded so the pressure–length relations cover the same pressure range. Curves were fitted through the data using the following equation: LVEDP = Aek·EDL. Note that k increases (steepening of the slope) in both nonischemic regions during remote ischemia and that this increase in k is more pronounced at the base. EDL = end-diastolic length; k = chamber stiffness constant; LVEDP = left-ventricular end-diastolic pressure.