Fig. 2

Basal sex differences in cardiomyocyte performance suppressed with hypertrophy. a Representative records of myocyte shortening in male and female NHR and HHR cardiomyocytes. b–d Basal twitch amplitude (% shortening), maximum rate of shortening/lengthening are lower in female cardiomyocytes compared with males—an effect that is accentuated in NHR compared with HHR. e No sex difference was observed in Ca²⁺ transients, though a trend for lower Ca²⁺ transient amplitude was evident in female NHR cardiomyocytes (f). No sex difference was observed in cardiomyocyte diastolic Ca²⁺ levels or the time constant of Ca²⁺ transient decay (g, h). (*sex p < 0.05; p < 0.05; mean ± SEM; n = 8–13 cells from four to five hearts/group)