Myosin of the ventricular myocardium of the cardiomyopathic Syrian hamster and of control animals was analysed using non-dissociating pyrophosphate electrophoresis. Three different myosin isoenzymes exhibiting different Ca2+ activated ATPase activities were demonstrated in the ventricular myocardium of the Syrian hamster. As shown by peptide mapping, ventricular myosin isoenzymes differ in their heavy chain composition. In the cardiomyopathic hamster a shift to myosins of lower Ca2+-activated ATPase activities occurs in the stage of insufficiency (age 220 days), whereas no different isoenzyme pattern could be found at the age of 65 days compared to control animals. We conclude that this redistribution of myosin isoenzymes is the basis of reduced myosin ATPase activity in the ventricular myocardium of the cardiomyopathic Syrian hamster during the development of myocardial insufficiency.

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