Research at the molecular and the cellular level has greatly enhanced our understanding of the pathogenesis and management of heart disease. Valuable contributions, towards this end, have been made by scientists from different dis­ ciplines including biochemistry, physiology, pathology, molecular biology and biophysics. We felt that it would be of interest and value to bring together ex­ perts from diverse specialities to present their work and to discuss the common problems encountered in their endeavours. In accordance, a symposium was organised in February 1988 at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh. It was held during the annual meeting of the Indian section of the International Society for Heart Research. This book is a compila­ tion of some of the papers presented at the symposium. The symposium was sponsored by the Council on Cardiac Metabolism of the International Society and Federation of Cardiology. A number of Indian or­ ganisations gave generous financial help. These included the National Academy of Medical Sciences, Indian Council of Medical Research, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Department of Science and Technology. Desktop publishing was used to prepare this volume. In doing so we came to appreciate the remarkable qualities, skills and help rendered by Professor Dharam Vir. For typing the manuscripts and for other secretarial assistance we gratefully acknowledge the help of Ravinder and Sawtantar. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY OF HEART DISEASE 1 THE NEWBORN PIG HEART, A SUPERIOR ANIMAL MODEL OF CARDIAC HYPERTROPHY Howard E.