Fig. 2. HWM-AGEs reduce cellular contractile properties. (A) Representative example of unloaded cell shortening during field stimulation at 1 Hz in control and HMW-AGEs group. (B) Fractional cell shortening normalized to cell length (L/L₀, %, p=0.0001, non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test), time to peak of contraction (TTP, sec, p=0.0002, non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test) and time to half-relaxation (Time to RT₅₀, sec, p=0.0002, non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test) in cardiomyocytes derived from control (n_cells=64) or HMW-AGEs-treated (n_cells=104) animals. Data are expresses as median with interquartile range (C) Relative change in fractional cell shortening normalized to cell length (L/L₀, %) at 1 Hz before and after isoproterenol (ISO) application in control (n_cells=13, p<0,01, two-way ANOVA) or HMW-AGEs cardiomyocytes (n_cells=18, P<0.01, two-way ANOVA). Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. ** denotes p<0.001, *** denotes P<0.0001.