I: Cell Biology of Diastole -- 1. Cellular Mechanisms of Relaxation: Lessons From Frogs, Birds, and Mammals -- 2. Sarcoplasmic Reticular Control of Cardiac Contraction and Relaxation -- 3. Calcium and Cardiac Relaxation -- 4. Variable Calcium Sensitivity of the Mammalian Cardiac Contractile System -- 5. Is Ischemic Contracture Preceded by a Rise in Free Calcium? -- 6. The Effect of Regional Myocardial Heterogeneity on the Economy of Isometric Relaxation -- 7. Functional Sequelae of Diastolic Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+ Release in the Myocardium -- II: Physiologic Modifiers of Relaxation in Experimental Models -- 8. Hypoxia and Relaxation -- 9. Ischemic/Hypoxic and Reperfusion/Reoxygenation Contractures: Mechanisms -- 10. Load Dependence of Relaxation -- 11. The Effects of Cardiac Hypertrophy on Intracellular Ca2+ Handling -- III: Evaluation of Relaxation and Compliance in the Intact Heart -- 12. Diastolic Myocardial Mechanics and the Regulation of Cardiac Performance -- 13. Evaluation of Time Course of Left Ventricular Isovolumic Relaxation in Man -- 14. Loading Conditions and Left Ventricular Relaxation -- 15. Influence of Pressure and Volume Overload on Diastolic Compliance -- 16. Influence of the Pericardium on Diastolic Compliance -- 17. Implications of Pericardial Pressure for the Evaluation of Diastolic Dysfunction -- 18. Comparative Effects of Ischemia and Hypoxia on Ventricular Relaxation in Isolated Perfused Hearts -- 19. Effects of Hypoxia on Relaxation of the Hypertrophied Ventricle -- 20. Relaxation and Diastolic Distensibility of the Regionally Ischemic Left Ventricle -- IV: Clinical Disorders of Diastolic Relaxation and Compliance -- 21. Altered Diastolic Distensibility During Angina Pectoris -- 22. Diastolic Function During Exercise-Induced Ischemia in Man -- 23. Left Ventricular Filling in Ischemic and Hypertrophic Heart Disease -- 24. Regional Diastolic Dysfunction in Coronary Artery Disease: Clinical and Therapeutic Implications -- 25. Ejection, Filling, and Diastasis During Transluminal Occlusion in Man: Consideration on Global and Regional Left Ventricular Function -- 26. Diastolic Ventricular Function in Primary and Secondary Hypertrophy: The Influence of Verapamil -- 27. Failure of Inactivation of Hypertrophied Myocardium: A Cause of Impaired Left Ventricular Filling in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Aortic Stenosis