Fig. 5

The time-based changes of characteristics of the “difference curve” (“positive” component) during slow force response to sudden stretch. The changes in the characteristics of the “positive” component of the “difference curve”, obtained by subtraction of referent Ca²⁺ transient from a current one, during the development of slow force response in normal (n = 6) and failing (n = 6) rat myocardium. a Amplitude of the “positive” component of the “difference curve.” b Integral intensity of the “positive” component of the “difference curve.” c Time-to-peak of the “positive” component of the “difference curve.” DC, “difference curve”; CaT, Ca²⁺ transient. Note that the characteristics are presented in actual values, not as a percentage of the first value after stretch. Scatter-plots of raw data (dots), median values (long thick lines) and 25–75% percentiles (short thin lines) are shown. The dotted line shows the level of “no change.” NS, no significant difference was found between CONT and MCT groups for the given time interval (Mann–Whitney U test)