Adenosine A(2a)-receptor activation increases contractility in isolated perfused hearts

Adenosine A(2a)-receptor activation enhances shortening of isolated cardiomyocytes. In the present study the effect of A(2a)-receptor activation on the contractile performance of isolated rat hearts was investigated by recording left ventricular pressure (LVP) and the maximal rate of LVP development (+dP/dt(max)). With constant-pressure perfusion, adenosine caused concentration-dependent increases in LVP and +dP/dt(max), with detectable increases of 4.1 and 4.8% at 10(-6) M and maximal increases of 12.0 and 11.1% at 10(-4) M, respectively. The contractile responses were prevented by the A(2a)-receptor antagonists chlorostyryl-caffeine and aminofuryltriazolotriazinyl-aminoethylphenol (ZM-241385) but were not affected by the beta(1)-adrenergic antagonist atenolol. The adenosine A(1)-receptor antagonist dipropylcyclopentylxanthine and pertussis toxin potentiated the positive inotropic effects of adenosine. The A(2a)-receptor agonists ethylcarboxamidoadenosine and dimethoxyphenyl-methylphenylethyl-adenosine also enhanced contractility. With constant-flow perfusion, 10(-5) M adenosine increased LVP and +dP/dt(max) by 5.5 and 6.0%, respectively. In the presence of the coronary vasodilator hydralazine, adenosine increased LVP and +dP/dt(max) by 7.5 and 7.4%, respectively. Dipropylcyclopentylxanthine potentiated the adenosine contractile responses with constant-flow perfusion in the absence and presence of hydralazine. These increases in contractile performance were also antagonized by chlorostyryl-caffeine and ZM-241385. The results indicate that adenosine increases contractile performance via activation of A(2a) receptors in the intact heart independent of beta(1)-adrenergic receptor activation or changes in coronary flow.

Norepinephrine concentrations in the epicardial transudate reflect early changes in adrenergic activity in the isolated perfused heart

The aim of this study was to establish whether epicardial transudates could be used to uncover small, but physiologically important changes in interstitial NE concentrations under normal and pathological conditions. Norepinephrine (NE) concentrations measured in epicardial transudate fluid were compared to NE levels in the coronary effluent in normal and pressure overload hypertrophied (POH) rat hearts. Hearts were isolated together with the stellate ganglion and perfused in the inverted position. Epicardial surface transudates, representative fluid of the interstitial myocardial compartment, and coronary effluents were collected for determination of NE levels in the presence and absence of stellate ganglion stimulation. The same protocol was repeated in the presence and absence of nisoxetine, a NE uptake blocker. NE concentrations in epicardial transudates were 16- and 19-fold higher than in the coronary effluent in both sham and POH groups, respectively. NE concentrations in the transudates but not in the coronary effluents were significantly higher (1.6-fold) in hearts with POH when compared to normal hearts. Likewise, nisoxetine (10(-5)m) increased (1.3-fold) NE concentrations in the transudates but not in the effluents of sham animals. As expected, stellate ganglion stimulation increased NE concentrations in both transudates and effluents in sham and POH hearts. In conclusion, determination of NE concentrations in epicardial transudates represents a simple, rapid and sensitive method to detect increases in adrenergic activity in normal and abnormal hearts.

Aging reduces the cardioprotective effect of ischemic preconditioning in the rat heart

Multiple brief periods of ischemia in the mammalian heart elicits protection against morphologic and functional damage caused by longer-duration ischemia. Preconditioning-induced protection against post-ischemic contractile dysfunction has been reported to be depressed with aging of the adult heart. This study was undertaken to determine whether aging of the adult myocardium reduces the preconditioning-induced attenuation of necrosis observed with ischemia. Isolated, perfused hearts obtained from Fischer 344 rats of either 3 (young) or 22 (aged) months of age were paced and instrumented for determination of developed left ventricular pressure. Necrosis was determined with triphenyltetrazolium. In the absence of preconditioning, young and aged adult hearts made globally ischemic for 45 min developed necrosis involving 53+/-6% and 49+/-6% of the myocardium, respectively. Contractile function (+dP/dt(max)) at 90 min of reperfusion was depressed by 80% in young and 52% in aged hearts, compared to values obtained prior to preconditioning. Preconditioning with two 5 min ischemia/5 min reperfusion cycles significantly reduced necrosis development and enhanced reperfusion contractile function in young hearts. However, in aged adult hearts, the preconditioning did not significantly reduce the development of necrosis or enhance reperfusion contractile function. These data suggest that aging reduces the effectiveness of preconditioning in providing cardioprotection against ischemic-induced myocardial necrosis.

"Preconditioning at a distance" in the isolated rabbit heart

OBJECTIVE

Brief myocardial ischemia evokes a cardioprotective response, referred to as "ischemic preconditioning" (IP), that limits injury caused by a subsequent prolonged ischemic insult. The myocardial IP effect can be induced by ischemia of "distant" cardiac and noncardiac tissue, implicating the involvement of an as-yet-unidentified humoral trigger. If a preconditioning hormone exists, the authors hypothesize that the IP effect should be transferable, via administration of coronary effluent, from a preconditioned donor heart to a virgin non-preconditioned acceptor heart.

METHODS

Isolated buffer-perfused rabbit hearts were assigned to one of four treatment groups in a donor/acceptor sequence. Donor hearts underwent either three IP cycles or a matched period of uninterrupted perfusion (control donors). Coronary perfusate collected from IP and control donor hearts was reoxygenated and transfused to virgin acceptor hearts. All hearts then underwent 30 minutes of global ischemia followed by 30 minutes of reperfusion. Left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) (the authors' index of cardioprotection) was monitored throughout the protocol by a left ventricular (LV) balloon.

RESULTS

In donor controls, LVDP assessed at 30 minutes post-reflow was restored to only 49 +/- 5% of baseline values. Recovery of LV function was significantly enhanced in both IP donor hearts (69 +/- 4%*) and IP acceptor hearts (70 +/- 6%*) vs donor controls (*p < 0.05), while, in acceptor controls, intermediate values of LVDP (62 +/- 7%) were obtained.

CONCLUSION

The IP effect can be transferred between rabbit hearts, suggesting the presence of a humoral trigger signal for distant preconditioning. Isolating this hormone may have therapeutic and diagnostic implications in the management of acute myocardial ischemia.

Rabbit heart can be "preconditioned" via transfer of coronary effluent

Brief myocardial ischemia not only evokes a local cardioprotective or "preconditioning" effect but also can render remote myocardium resistant to sustained ischemia. We propose the following hypotheses: remote protection is initiated by a humoral trigger; brief ischemia-reperfusion will result in release of the humoral trigger (possibly adenosine and/or norepinephrine) into the coronary effluent; and transfer of this effluent to a virgin acceptor heart will elicit cardioprotection. To test these concepts, effluent was collected during normal perfusion from donor-control hearts and during preconditioning ischemia-reperfusion from donor-preconditioned (PC) hearts. After reoxygenation occurred and aliquots for measurement of adenosine and norepinephrine content were harvested, effluent was transfused to acceptor-control and acceptor-PC hearts. All hearts then underwent 40 min of global ischemia and 60 min of reperfusion, and infarct size was delineated by tetrazolium staining. Mean infarct size was smaller in both donor- and acceptor-PC groups (9% of left ventricle) than in donor- and acceptor-control groups (36% and 34%; P < 0.01). Protection in acceptor-PC hearts could not, however, be attributed to adenosine or norepinephrine. Thus preconditioning-induced cardioprotection can be transferred between rabbit hearts by transfusion of coronary effluent. Although adenosine and norepinephrine are apparently not responsible, these results suggest that remote protection is initiated by a humoral mechanism.

ATP as a source of interstitial adenosine in the rat heart

The contribution of neuronal ATP to interstitial adenosine levels was investigated in isolated perfused rat hearts. Ventricular surface transudates, representing interstitial fluid, were analyzed for norepinephrine, ATP, and adenosine. Exocytotic release of norepinephrine was induced by electrical stimulation of cardiac efferents emanating from the stellate ganglion. Ganglion stimulation increased contractility, interstitial norepinephrine, ATP, and adenosine. Interstitial adenosine was 11- to 27-fold higher than interstitial ATP, suggesting that the released ATP is unlikely the only source of adenosine. In the presence of AOPCP (alpha,beta-methyleneadenosine 5'-diphosphate), an ecto-5'-nucleotidase inhibitor, the ganglion-stimulated increase in interstitial ATP and adenosine reached levels similar to those in the absence of AOPCP, also suggesting that adenosine does not derive from extracellular ATP. The perfusate Ca2+ was raised from 1 to 4 mM to determine the importance of the enhanced contractile function on the levels of norepinephrine, ATP, and adenosine. The results were increases in contractility and interstitial norepinephrine, ATP, and adenosine, which were not suppressed with atenolol, indicating a norepinephrine-independent release of ATP and adenosine. Reserpine treatment and administration of guanethidine depleted the catecholamine stores and diminished the catecholamine release, respectively. However, neither agent altered Ca2+-induced increases in ATP and adenosine. It is concluded that the amount of neuronal-derived ATP is low and most likely does not contribute significantly to interstitial levels of adenosine. Furthermore, elevations in interstitial norepinephrine, ATP, and adenosine are associated with neuronal-independent increases in contractile function.

Adenosine A2a-receptor activation enhances cardiomyocyte shortening via Ca2+-independent and -dependent mechanisms

Adenosine A2a receptor (A2aR) stimulation enhances the shortening of ventricular myocytes. Whether the A2aR-mediated increase in myocyte contractility is associated with alterations in the amplitude of intracellular Ca2+ transients was investigated in isolated, contracting rat ventricular myocytes using the Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye fura 2-AM. In the presence of intact inhibitory G protein pathways, 10(-4) M 2-p-(2-carboxyethyl)phenethyl-amino-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (CGS-21680), an A2aR agonist, insignificantly increased Ca2+ transients by 8 +/- 5%, whereas myocyte shortening increased by 54 +/- 1%. In contrast, 2 x 10(-7) M isoproterenol, a beta-adrenergic receptor agonist, increased Ca2+ transients by 104 +/- 15% and increased myocyte shortening by 61 +/- 6%. When A2aR were stimulated in myocytes that had the antiadrenergic actions of adenosine (Ado) abolished by either treatment with pertussis toxin (PTx) or the presence of 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX), an adenosine A1-receptor antagonist, the maximum increases in Ca2+ transients were similarly nominal (with PTx: 10(-4) M CGS-21680, 14 +/- 6% and 10(-4) M Ado, 15 +/- 4%; without PTx: 10(-5) M Ado + 2 x 10(-7) M DPCPX, 19 +/- 1%). These results indicate that compared with beta-adrenergic stimulation, which markedly increases myocyte Ca2+ transients and shortening, A2aR-mediated increases in myocyte shortening are accompanied by only modest increases in Ca2+ transients. These observations suggest that the A2aR-induced contractile effects are mediated predominantly by Ca2+-independent inotropic mechanisms.

Effect of aging on myocardial adenosine production, adenosine uptake and adenosine kinase activity in rats

Adenosine levels present in the interstitial fluid and coronary effluent of the aged heart exceed those of the young adult heart. The present study investigated mechanisms in the Fischer 344 rat heart which may be responsible for the observed differences. (1) Total production of adenosine was determined in isolated perfused hearts by measuring coronary effluent adenosine content while inhibiting adenosine deamination and rephosphorylation with erythrohydroxy-nonyladenosine (EHNA) and iodotubercidin (ITC), respectively. Total adenosine production was similar in both young (3-4 month) and aged (20-21 month) hearts at 31.8 +/- 6.6 and 38.4 +/- 3.3 nmol/min/g dry wt, respectively. However, stimulation with the beta-adrenergic agent, isoproterenol, elicited a significantly greater increase in adenosine production in the young vs. aged heart. (2) Adenosine transport was evaluated in isolated perfused hearts by determining 14C uptake by the myocardium after 20 min of 14C-adenosine perfusion. Adenosine uptake in the agent-free heart was found to be decreased 17 to 25% in aged compared to young adult hearts. (3) Adenosine transport characteristics were determined with nitrobenzylthioinosine saturation-binding studies in ventricular membrane preparations. The Bmax values were significantly lower in aged than young adult hearts (140.2 +/- 1.5 fmol/mg and 191.9 +/- 2.3 fmol/mg in aged and young hearts, respectively) indicating a decreased number of transporter sites in the aged heart. However, the values for Kd were decreased with aging, suggesting an increase in the affinity of the transporter for adenosine in the aged vs. young adult heart. (4) The activities and kinetics of adenosine kinase were determined in homogenates of aged and young adult ventricular myocardium. No statistical difference was found between the two activities. Taken together these results suggest that increased interstitial adenosine levels in the aged heart result from decreased uptake of adenosine by the ventricular myocardium.

Adenosine A1 receptor-mediated antiadrenergic effects are modulated by A2a receptor activation in rat heart

Presently, the physiological significance of myocardial adenosine A2a receptor stimulation is unclear. In this study, the influence of adenosine A2a receptor activation on A1 receptor-mediated antiadrenergic actions was studied using constant-flow perfused rat hearts and isolated rat ventricular myocytes. In isolated perfused hearts, the selective A2a receptor antagonists 8-(3-chlorostyryl)caffeine (CSC) and 4-(2-[7-amino-2-(2-furyl)[1,2, 4]triazolo[2,3-a][1,3,5]triazin-5-ylamino]ethyl)phenol (ZM-241385) potentiated adenosine-mediated decreases in isoproterenol (Iso; 10(-8) M)-elicited contractile responses (+dP/dtmax) in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of ZM-241385 on adenosine-induced antiadrenergic actions was abolished by the selective A1 receptor antagonist 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (10(-7) M), but not the selective A3 receptor antagonist 3-ethyl-5-benzyl-2-methyl-4-phenylethynyl-6-phenyl-1, 4-(+/-)-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate (MRS-1191, 10(-7) M). The A2a receptor agonist carboxyethylphenethyl-aminoethyl-carboxyamido-adenosine (CGS-21680) at 10(-5) M attenuated the antiadrenergic effect of the selective A1 receptor agonist 2-chloro-N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CCPA), whereas CSC did not influence the antiadrenergic action of this agonist. In isolated ventricular myocytes, CSC potentiated the inhibitory action of adenosine on Iso (2 x 10(-7) M)-elicited increases in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) transients but did not influence Iso-induced changes in [Ca2+]i transients in the absence of exogenous adenosine. These results indicate that adenosine A2a receptor antagonists enhance A1-receptor-induced antiadrenergic responses and that A2a receptor agonists attenuate (albeit to a modest degree) the antiadrenergic actions of A1 receptor activation. In conclusion, the data in this study support the notion that an important physiological role of A2a receptors in the normal mammalian myocardium is to reduce A1 receptor-mediated antiadrenergic actions.

Adenosine A2a receptors increase arterial endothelial cell nitric oxide

BACKGROUND

Adenosine is a potent vasodilator of vascular smooth muscle. Endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) elicits vasodilation. We have previously reported that adenosine stimulates the production of NO from porcine carotid arterial endothelial cells (PCAEC) via a receptor-mediated mechanism. This study was to determine whether adenosine also enhances NO production from human arterial endothelium and to define the involvement of adenosine A1 and A2 receptors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Human iliac arterial endothelial cells (HIAEC) and PCAEC were harvested and cultured in dishes. NO production was evaluated with a NO electrode sensor which measured continuously real-time NO production.

RESULTS

NO content of the medium bathing HIAEC and PCAEC was significantly increased with adenosine (100 micromol/L). Ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA), a nonselective adenosine receptor agonist, and carboxyethyl-phenethylamino-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (CGS-21680), a selective adenosine A2a receptor agonist, increased NO production by HIAEC and PCAEC with respective EC50 values of 3.32 and 6.96 nmol/L for NECA and 30.97 and 29.47 nmol/L for CGS-21680. Chlorofuryl-triazolo-quinazolinamine (CGS-15943; 1 micromol/L), an adenosine A1 and A2 receptor antagonist, and aminofuryltriazolotriazinyl-aminoethylphenol (ZM-241385; 1 micromol/L), a selective adenosine A2a receptor antagonist, inhibited the effect of CGS-21680. Chlorocyclopentyl-adenosine (CCPA; 1 micromol/L), an adenosine A1 receptor agonist, significantly depressed NO production by both HIAEC and PCAEC: This effect was inhibited by cyclopentyl-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX), a selective adenosine A1 receptor antagonist.

CONCLUSIONS

The results demonstrate that adenosine A2a receptors increase, and adenosine A1 receptors decrease, the production of NO by human and porcine arterial endothelial cells.

Effects of chronic adenosine uptake blockade on adrenergic responsiveness and left ventricular chamber function in pressure overload hypertrophy in the rat

BACKGROUND

Increased sympathetic activity contributes to the progression of heart failure. Adenosine counteracts sympathetic activity by inhibition of presynaptic norepinephrine release and attenuation of the metabolic and contractile responses to beta-adrenergic stimulation. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the adenosinergic effects (uptake blockade) of dipyridamole may retard the progression of pressure overload hypertrophy in the rat.

METHODS AND RESULTS

To verify that the administration of dipyridamole increases myocardial adenosine levels in the rat, epicardial adenosine concentrations were measured from 12 isolated, perfused rat hearts exposed to 10(-7) and 10(-6) mol/l dipyridamole. Adenosine concentrations were increased with both doses of dipyridamole. Also, 9 weeks of dipyridamole treatment resulted in decreased sensitivity to the adenosine A1-receptor agonist, 2-chloro-N6-cyclopentyl adenosine, suggesting that dipyridamole increases adenosine levels in the intact rat. In the second part of the study, rats were divided into either abdominal aortic-banded or sham-operated groups and were treated with either dipyridamole or saline. After 9 weeks of treatment, two-dimensional Doppler echocardiographic studies were performed and the adrenergic responsiveness to 10(-8) mol/l isoproterenol was assessed in vitro. The saline-treated banded group demonstrated concentric left ventricular hypertrophy, abnormal diastolic filling, increased wet lung weights and attenuation of adrenergic responsiveness. In contrast, the dipyridamole-treated banded rats exhibited more concentric geometry (higher relative wall thickness with similar left ventricular mass), normal left ventricular filling characteristics and preserved adrenergic responsiveness. Systolic left ventricular chamber and myocardial function, as assessed by stress-endocardial and midwall shortening relationships, were not significantly altered by banding or dipyridamole treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Dipyridamole treatment prevented the development of abnormal left ventricular chamber filling, preserved adrenergic responsiveness and appeared to attenuate detrimental chamber remodeling in rats with pressure overload hypertrophy.

Adenosine mediates sustained adrenergic desensitization in the rat heart via activation of protein kinase C

Adenosine attenuates the myocardial metabolic and contractile responses induced by ss-adrenergic stimulation. Our study was conducted to investigate the longevity of this antiadrenergic action after adenosine exposure. Adenosine (33 micromol/L) was infused into isolated perfused rat hearts for 1, 5, 30, or 60 minutes, and the adrenergic responsiveness (AR) to isoproterenol (10(-8) mol/L) was determined at the end of each infusion period and during a 45-minute adenosine washout period. Interstitial levels of adenosine, as determined from epicardial surface transudates, returned to preinfusion levels within 10 minutes of washout. The duration of adenosine infusion had no effect on the extent of attenuation of AR at the end of the infusion. Whereas AR returned to preadenosine levels with washout of shorter adenosine infusions (1 and 5 minutes), there was a slow and incomplete recovery of AR after the longer exposures (30 and 60 minutes) to adenosine. The magnitude of this persistent antiadrenergic effect (PAE) of adenosine at 15 minutes of washout was proportional to the epicardial concentration of adenosine during infusion of the nucleoside. Infusion of adenosine either with the nonselective adenosine receptor antagonist 8-p-sulfophenyl theophylline or with the selective A1-receptor antagonist 1,3-dipropyl, 8-cyclopentylxanthine, abolished the PAE during the washout period. In addition, the PAE could be demonstrated only with the selective A1-receptor agonist 2-chloro-N6-cyclopentyladenosine and not with the selective A3-receptor agonist 4-aminobenzyl-5'-N methylcarboxamido-adenosine. When the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor chelerythrine was coadministered with adenosine, the PAE of adenosine was not apparent during adenosine washout. A 30-minute infusion of phenylephrine, an alpha-adrenergic agonist that enhances PKC activity, produced a PAE that lasted for up to 30 minutes of washout. This effect was prevented by the coinfusion of chelerythrine. Thus, it is concluded that the PAE of adenosine is determined by the myocardial concentration of this nucleoside and is manifested when myocardial concentrations of adenosine returned to baseline levels. Moreover, a 5-minute duration of adenosine exposure is required for the expression of the PAE. This latter effect seems to be dependent on adenosine-induced PKC activation via A1-receptors.

Myocardial adenosine A1-receptor sensitivity during juvenile and adult stages of maturation

In the heart, endogenous adenosine attenuates the beta-adrenergic-elicited increase in contractile performance via activation of adenosine A1 receptors. It has been recently reported that this function of adenosine becomes more pronounced with myocardial maturation. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether mature hearts possess a greater sensitivity than immature hearts to this antiadrenergic effect of adenosine. Isolated perfused hearts or atria from immature (ca. 23 days) and mature (ca. 80 days) rats were stimulated with isoproterenol (Iso), a beta-adrenergic agonist, at 10(-8) M and concomitantly exposed to increasing concentrations of 2-chloro-N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CCPA), a highly selective and potent adenosine A1-receptor agonist, from 10(-12) to 10(-6) M. CCPA at 10(-10)-10(-6) M dose dependently reduced the Iso-elicited contractile response more in immature than in mature hearts or atria. At 10(-6) M, CCPA reduced the Iso-elicited contractile response by 103% in immature hearts and by 55% in mature hearts. These effects of CCPA were attenuated by the adenosine A1-receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine at 10(-7) M. In additional experiments, CCPA exhibited similar effectiveness in reducing the spontaneous heart rate of immature and mature hearts, an effect also mediated by activation of adenosine A1 receptors. Similar to CCPA, the adenosine A1-receptor agonist R-N6-(2-phenylisopropyl)adenosine reduced the Iso-elicited contractile response more in immature than in mature hearts, albeit with less effectiveness than CCPA. In agreement with these results, CCPA reduced Iso-elicited adenylyl cyclase activity more in immature than in mature hearts. Overall, in contrast with our original hypothesis, these results indicate that immature hearts display greater sensitivity than mature hearts to the antiadrenergic effect of adenosine A1-receptor activation.

Adenosine A2 receptor function in rat ventricular myocytes

OBJECTIVE

This study was undertaken to investigate the functional significance of adenosine A2 receptor stimulation in a mammalian ventricular myocyte preparation.

METHODS

Isolated contracting rat ventricular myocytes were employed to assess the contractile, adenylyl cyclase and cyclic AMP responses to adenosine receptor stimulation.

RESULTS

In single myocytes the presence of A1 receptors was confirmed, as indicated by the A1 receptor agonist, phenylisopropyladenosine (PIA), reducing by 60 and 74% the inotropic response and activation of adenylyl cyclase, respectively, elicited by the beta-adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol. An A1 receptor antagonist, dipropylcyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX), prevented the antiadrenergic action of PIA. The A2 receptor agonist, carboxyethylphenethyl-aminoethyl-carboxamido-adenosine (CGS-21680; 0.01-10 microM) increased myocyte inotropy in a concentration-dependent manner, reaching a maximum of 41-45%. Ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA), naphthyl-substituted aralkoxy-adenosine (SHA-082) and adenosine in the presence of DPCPX also increased myocyte inotropy, as evidenced by increases in myocyte shortening, duration of shortening, time-to-peak shortening, time-to-75% relaxation and rate of maximal shortening. The agonists, however, did not effect the maximal rate of relaxation. The A2 receptor antagonists, chlorofuranyldihydrotri-azoloquinazolinimine (CGS-15943) and chlorostyrylcaffeine (CSC), the latter selective for the A2a receptor, prevented the contractile responses elicited by the A2 agonists. Compared to the concentrations of A2 receptor agonists necessary to increase myocyte contractile variables, 3-12 times greater concentrations of the agonist were required to increase myocyte adenylyl cyclase activity and cAMP levels.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest the presence of adenosine A2a receptors in the rat ventricular myocyte that appear to be responsible for an increase in inotropy via cAMP-dependent and -independent mechanisms.

Myocardial adenosine A1 and A2 receptor activities during juvenile and adult stages of development

Myocardial contractile responsiveness to beta-adrenoceptor stimulation is known to be reduced with maturation or aging. The present study was undertaken to determine the role of antiadrenergic A1 and stimulatory A2 adenosine receptors in the modulation of beta-adrenergic-elicited contractile performance of the heart at juvenile (approximately 25 days) and adult (approximately 79 days) stages of maturation. Isoproterenol, a beta-adrenergic agonist, at 10(-7) M produced a greater maximal increase in contractility, assessed as the maximal rate of left ventricular pressure development (+dP/dtmax), in immature than in mature hearts (104 and 80%, respectively), but produced a greater increase in venous adenosine concentration in the mature than in the immature hearts (738 and 277 nM, respectively). Isoproterenol at 10(-9) to 10(-8) M produced similar increases in contractility in the absence or presence of the A1 adenosine receptor antagonist xanthine amine congener (XAC; 0.5 microM) for both immature and mature hearts. In addition, XAC did not alter the isoproterenol-elicited contractile response in the immature heart during hypoperfusion induced by 50% reduction of coronary flow. However, in the mature heart, 10(-8) M isoproterenol elicited a significantly greater increase in +dP/dtmax during hypoperfusion in the presence (79%) vs. the absence (60%) of XAC. In both immature and mature hearts, hypoperfusion enhanced isoproterenol-elicited venous adenosine concentration by similar magnitudes of 76 and 72%, respectively. In further studies, the A2 adenosine receptor antagonist 9-chloro-2-(2-furyl)[1,2,4]-triazolo[1,5-c]quinazolin-5-amine (CGS-15943; 1 microM) reduced the isoproterenol-elicited contractile response of mature but not immature hearts during normal perfusion. These results suggest that myocardial adenosine modulates the beta-adrenergic-elicited contractile response of the adult heart via activation of both A1 and A2 adenosine receptors and that these functions of adenosine become expressed with myocardial maturation.

Endogenous adenosine reduces depression of cardiac function induced by beta-adrenergic stimulation during low flow perfusion

High levels of norepinephrine in the heart are cardiotoxic resulting in contractile dysfunction and arrhythmic activity via beta-adrenoceptor mediated mechanisms. A low flow heart model perfused with physiological saline containing glucose and bubbled with an O2 gas mixture was used to determine whether adenosine, a nucleoside with antiadrenergic properties, could reduce the functional manifestations of catecholamine cardiotoxicity. Isolated rat hearts were treated with dipropylcyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX; 0.1 microM; A1 receptor antagonist) to block endogenous adenosine. In DPCPX-treated hearts stimulated with isoproterenol (ISO; 1 microM) during 45 min of low flow (0.5 ml/min) perfusion, the recovery of contractile function (ConF) at 15 min after the restoration of normal flow was 64% of control (before low flow) values as compared to 110% recovery of ConF in the absence of ISO. The incidence of arrhythmias observed upon restoration of control flow was increased by ISO when the action of endogenous adenosine was blocked with DPCPX. In the absence of DPCPX both the functional depression and arrhythmias induced by ISO were prevented in the presence of phenylisopropyladenosine (PIA; 1 microM; A1 receptor agonist). At 15 min after normal flow was restored. ConF in ISO-treated hearts with PIA was 53% greater than in the absence of PIA and presence of DPCPX. This enhancement of ConF by PIA was significantly reduced by DPCPX. By 30 min after flow restoration, these significant differences were absent. DPCPX reversed the PIA-induced reduction in arrhythmias observed upon restoration of normal flow. PIA and DPCPX alone in the absence of ISO, and ISO in the absence of PIA and DPCPX, did not result in altered ConF upon restoration of normal flow. These findings indicate that intense beta-adrenergic stimulation of the heart during low-flow perfusion in the absence of adenosine A1 receptor activity induces contractile depression and arrhythmicity subsequent to restoration of control perfusion. It is concluded that endogenous adenosine protects the heart against catecholamine toxicity via stimulation of adenosine A1 receptors.

Adenosine enhances nitric oxide production by vascular endothelial cells

Adenosine per se is a potent vasodilator of vascular smooth muscle. Endothelial cells modulate vascular tone via the release of nitric oxide (NO), which also elicits vasodilation. This study was undertaken to determine whether adenosine could directly stimulate endothelial cells to enhance NO production, which could subsequently reduce vascular tone. NO production was evaluated in porcine carotid artery endothelial cells (PCAEC) and human saphenous vein endothelial cells (HSVEC) seeded on multiwell plates, grown to confluence, and treated with adenosine for 1 h. The bathing medium was collected, and the NO production was determined as reflected by the formation of NO2- and NO3-. NO production by PCAEC was significantly increased by adenosine in a dose-dependent manner, whereas there was only an insignificant tendency for an increase by HSVEC. The addition of the NO synthase competitive inhibitor, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMMA), or the adenosine receptor antagonist, theophylline, prevented the increase in NO production by adenosine. The results suggest that adenosine stimulates, by a receptor-mediated mechanism, the production of NO by arterial, but not by venous, endothelial cells.

Fatal, generalized bovine herpesvirus type-1 infection associated with a modified-live infectious bovine rhinotracheitis parainfluenza-3 vaccine administered to neonatal calves

Generalized bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) infection was diagnosed in six Salers calves from the same herd. The calves had received an intramuscular injection of modified-live infectious bovine rhinotracheitis parainfluenza-3 vaccine between birth and three days of age. The purpose of this study was to determine if the outbreak was associated with the vaccine strain of BHV-1. Analysis of epidemiological data and BHV-1 DNA for restriction fragment length polymorphism was undertaken. Multifocal necrosis in multiple organs was observed on pathological examination, and the presence of BHV-1 in tissues was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Forty-three calves (aged birth to thirty days) were vaccinated over an 11-day interval. The 10 deaths recorded for vaccinated calves were clustered over a subsequent 14-day interval. Mortality in calves vaccinated between birth and three days of age was significantly higher than in nonvaccinated calves (chi-square test; p < or = 0.025), and this mortality was characterized by a greater age at death and duration of illness for vaccinated calves (t test; p < or = 0.001). The patterns of the restriction fragments, generated by six restriction endonucleases, of BHV-1 isolated from a necropsied calf and from the vaccine were identical, and different from that of a laboratory strain of BHV-1 (P8-2). These findings support the conclusion that newborn calves were susceptible to an intramuscularly injected vaccine strain of BHV-1, and that administration of an intramuscular modified-live infectious bovine rhinotracheitis parainfluenza-3 vaccine to neonatal calves may not be an innocuous procedure.

Adenosine inhibition of beta-adrenergic induced responses in aged hearts

Because adenosine has an antiadrenergic action in the heart, young (3-4 mo) and aged (18-20 mo) adult Sprague-Dawley and Fischer 344 rat hearts were perfused to determine whether interstitial adenosine plays a role in the reduced metabolic and mechanical responsiveness of the aged heart to beta-adrenergic stimulation. Interstitial adenosine was approximately twofold greater in aged hearts compared with young adult hearts, and 10(-8) M isoproterenol (ISO) further increased these levels. ISO increased myocardial adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate content, glycogen phosphorylase activity, and cardiac contractility by 83, 150, and 130%, respectively, in young hearts but only increased these variables by 45, 74, and 61%, respectively, in aged hearts. Sulfophenyl-theophylline prevented the reduced ISO-induced responsiveness of the above variables in aged hearts. Exogenously administered adenosine deaminase eliminated the reduced ISO-induced contractile responsiveness in aged hearts. The apparent activities of 5'-nucleotidase and adenosine deaminase were not significantly different in ventricular samples from young and aged hearts. These results suggest that the elevated interstitial level of adenosine exerts a greater antiadrenergic effect in the aged heart, rendering it less responsive to beta-adrenergic stimulation. The increased interstitial level of adenosine in the aged heart does not appear to be due to a difference in the activities of either 5'-nucleotidase or adenosine deaminase.

Hypoxia enhances isoproterenol-induced increase in heart interstitial adenosine, depressing beta-adrenergic contractile responses

Endogenous interstitial adenosine may protect the hypoxic heart by attenuating beta-adrenergic-induced contractile and metabolic responses, thereby reducing energy utilization. Constant-flow perfused rat hearts were used to study: 1) the effect of hypoxia on isoproterenol (ISO)-induced increase in interstitial adenosine, as estimated with epicardial surface transudates, and 2) the role of endogenous adenosine in hypoxic depression of ISO-induced contractile responses. ISO (1 nM for 10 minutes) in the normoxic heart increased transudate adenosine 114% from a pre-ISO normoxic value of 343 pmol/ml. ISO administered to the hypoxic heart increased transudate adenosine 357% from a pre-ISO hypoxic value of 797 pmol/ml. The absolute magnitude of the ISO-induced increase in transudate adenosine was 625% greater during hypoxia than during normoxia. This was associated with a reduction in the ISO-induced contractile response during hypoxia. In other experiments, with normoxia ISO (10 nM for 10 seconds) increased developed left ventricular pressure by 140 mm Hg, and the maximum rates of left ventricular pressure development and relaxation by 5,860 and 2,771 mm Hg/sec, respectively, above control values of 90 mm Hg, 2,250 mm Hg/sec, and 1,875 mm Hg/sec. Hypoxia reduced the three ISO-induced contractile responses by 50%, 56%, and 36%. However, 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (5 x 10(-7) M), an adenosine A1-receptor antagonist, added to the hypoxic hearts resulted in only a 31%, 39%, and 9% reduction in the ISO-induced responses in developed left ventricular pressure and the maximum rates of left ventricular pressure development and relaxation, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Fluorometric quantitation of adenosine concentration in small samples of extracellular fluid

Adenosine is a naturally occurring nucleoside which regulates many physiological processes by interacting with adenosine-specific receptors. Knowledge of the extracellular adenosine concentration at the site of adenosine receptors on target cells is required for an understanding of mechanisms involving the action of the nucleoside. Samples of extracellular fluid which reside in close proximity to the surface of target cells are frequently small in volume. This report describes improvements in accuracy and reliability of a fluorometric assay designed for determining the concentration of adenosine in microliter samples of extracellular fluids. The utility of the assay is demonstrated by determining adenosine concentrations in interstitial and coronary effluent samples from normoxic perfused rat hearts. The assay also clearly detects changes in the interstitial and coronary effluent adenosine levels produced by isoproterenol stimulation or hypoxia. Thus, this assay is useful for determining the adenosine concentration in microliter samples of extracellular fluid and should facilitate investigations dealing with the functions of adenosine.

Persistent shedding of Salmonella enteritidis from the udder of a cow

Salmonella enteritidis phagetype 8 was isolated from ill humans, milk-line filters, milk from a bulk tank, and milk from the right hind quarter of a five-year-old Holstein cow on a dairy farm in southern Alberta. The affected animal was removed from the herd and continued to shed S. enteritidis from this quarter during a seven-month interval in an isolation facility. Milk from the affected quarter was visually normal, and no other pathogen was isolated from the udder during the investigation. After removal of the infected cow from the herd, milk from the bulk tank was culturally negative for Salmonella sp. during the succeeding 15 months.

Adenosine reduces the Ca2+ transients of isoproterenol-stimulated rat ventricular myocytes

Adenosine in the heart attenuates the contractile and metabolic effects of beta-adrenergic stimulation. The effect of adenosine on changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration [( Ca2+]i) elicited with electrical stimulation was studied in rat ventricular myocytes in the absence and presence of isoproterenol (ISO). Fura-2 was utilized as a Ca2+ indicator. Autofluorescence was determined, and in vivo calibration was conducted, for each myocyte. Phenylisopropyladenosine (PIA; 10(-7) M; 5 min), an adenosine A1 receptor agonist, had no effect on the Ca2+ transient magnitude (TM) or the rate of Ca2+ transient decline determined at 150 nM Ca2+(i) (RD150). ISO (10(-8) M; 1 min) in the continued presence of PIA resulted in a 16% increase in the TM, but no change in the RD150. Inhibiting the PIA with 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX; 10(-7) M; 3 min) in the continued presence of ISO plus PIA resulted in a further 51% increase in the TM and a 57% increase in the RD150. In PIA-treated myocytes, ISO-induced spontaneous high-frequency Ca2+ transients occasionally were observed after the inhibition of PIA by DPCPX. The results of this study suggest that adenosine attenuates myocardial contractile responses to beta-adrenergic stimulation, in part, by reducing the beta-adrenergic-induced changes in the Ca2+ transients occurring in the contracting ventricular myocyte.

Thallium stress testing does not predict cardiovascular risk in diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing cadaveric renal transplantation

PURPOSE

This study assessed the usefulness of thallium stress testing as a predictor of perioperative cardiovascular risk in diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing cadaveric renal transplantation. Demographic factors influencing the exercise performance in these patients were also examined.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The medical records of 189 consecutive patients with diabetic nephropathy who were evaluated for cadaveric renal transplantation were reviewed. Thallium stress testing was the initial examination of cardiovascular status in 141 patients. An adequate examination was one in which at least 70% of maximum heart rate was achieved. A thallium stress test was normal if there were no ST segment depressions on the electrocardiogram and no perfusion abnormalities on the thallium scan. Forty-four patients underwent cardiac catheterization as the initial evaluation (Group C) and four patients underwent transplantation without a formal cardiovascular evaluation (Group D).

RESULTS

Sixty-four of the 141 patients undergoing thallium stress testing had an adequate and normal examination (Group A). The incidence of perioperative cardiac events in this group was 2%. Seventy-seven patients (Group B) had an abnormal (n = 41) or an inadequate (n = 36) thallium stress test and most (n = 61) then underwent coronary angiography. The use of beta-blockers was the only predictor of an abnormal or inadequate thallium stress test (10 of 64 versus 27 of 77, chi 2 = 6.66, p less than or equal to 0.025). Forty-three percent (26 of 61 in Group B) of patients with inadequate or abnormal thallium stress tests had significant coronary artery disease on cardiac catheterization. The perioperative risk of cardiac events was not different in Group A versus Groups B, C, and D combined. Survival of Group A and B patients was not different but was significantly longer than that of Group C patients (p less than 0.001). Thallium stress testing was less expensive than cardiac catheterization ($1,000 versus $4,000 to $5,000).

CONCLUSIONS

Thallium stress testing allowed 45% of patients to avoid cardiac catheterization before renal transplantation. Discontinuing beta-blockers before thallium stress tests may improve exercise performance. The risk of perioperative cardiac events after transplantation was low and not different among patient groups. The relatively low predictive value of thallium stress testing for significant coronary artery disease and perioperative cardiac events in diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease suggests the need for the development of a more cost-effective, noninvasive screening test for this patient population.

Increased myocardial adenosine production and reduction of beta-adrenergic contractile response in aged hearts

The contractile response of the aged adult heart to beta-adrenergic stimulation is known to be reduced compared with the young adult heart. Since endogenous adenosine exerts an antiadrenergic action in the heart, this study was undertaken to determine if the basal endogenous level of myocardial adenosine increases with age and whether this increase mediates the reduced responsiveness of aged heart to beta-adrenergic stimulation. Young (3-5 months) and aged (12-22 months) Sprague-Dawley adult rat hearts of CD and SD stock were perfused at constant pressure and paced at 270 contractions/min. The two age groups had a similar level of +dP/dtmax (index of contractility) under control conditions. Adenosine release into the coronary effluent was 30 +/- 3 nmol/min/g dry wt from young and 54 +/- 9 nmol/min/g dry wt from aged hearts. Inosine release was also greater from the aged hearts. Isoproterenol (10(-8) M) stimulation increased contractile state by 113% in young hearts and only 69% in aged hearts. Isoproterenol further increased the adenosine and inosine release from both age groups. Theophylline (5 x 10(-5) M), an adenosine antagonist, prevented the difference in the contractile response to isoproterenol stimulation between the young and aged hearts. Elevation of external calcium from 2 to 4 mM increased contractility equally in both age groups without influencing adenosine release. Myocardial oxygen consumption, coronary effluent PO2, oxygen supply-demand ratio, and lactate release were similar for both age groups, indicating that under the conditions studied the elevated release of adenosine by the aged hearts was not due to hypoxia. Aged (10-14 months) adult guinea pig hearts also displayed a reduced responsiveness to the isoproterenol stimulation and released more adenosine compared with young (3-4 months) adult guinea pig hearts. These findings suggest that enhanced adenosine levels that are present in the aged myocardium are responsible, in part, for the reduced contractile responsiveness of the older adult heart to beta-adrenergic stimulation.

Influence of beta-adrenergic stimulation and contraction frequency on rat heart interstitial adenosine

Adenosine (ADO) has an antiadrenergic action in the heart that causes an attenuation of contractile and metabolic responses elicited by beta-adrenergic stimulation. The effect of an increase in oxygen consumption elicited by either beta-adrenergic stimulation or an increase in contraction frequency on interstitial fluid and coronary effluent ADO levels was investigated in isolated perfused isovolumically contracting rat hearts. ADO in left ventricular surface transudates and coronary effluents was rendered fluorescent with chloroacetaldehyde, and the formed ethenoadenosine derivative was quantitated with high-performance liquid chromatography fluorescence detection. Heart preparation integrity was verified by determining the activities of lactate dehydrogenase and ADO deaminase in the transudates. Isoproterenol (10(-8) M) elicited a 45% increase in oxygen consumption and a 54% increase in developed left ventricular pressure in hearts paced at 240 beats/min. With isoproterenol the control transudate ADO concentration (304 pmol/ml) increased 493%, and the control effluent ADO concentration (48 pmol/ml) increased 259%. Increasing the contraction frequency from 180 to 300 beats/min in the presence of 10(-6) M propranolol increased oxygen consumption by 45% and decreased left ventricular pressure by 29%. With the increase in contraction frequency, the transudate ADO concentration did not increase significantly. However, the ADO concentration in the effluent was an average of 269% greater in hearts contracting at the higher frequency. Increasing the contraction frequency of hearts treated with both 10(-6) M propranolol and 10(-5) M atropine also had no significant effect on the level of transudate ADO. The effluent level of ADO increased only 78%. Levels of ADO in transudates were not significantly affected by mesothelial cell metabolism. These results suggest that the beta-adrenergic stimulation the interstitial level of ADO in the heart increases to levels that are sufficient to manifest its antiadrenergic effects. Furthermore, there is not always a correlation between the levels of ADO found in the interstitial and effluent fluid compartments.

Measurement by fluorescence of interstitial adenosine levels in normoxic, hypoxic, and ischemic perfused rat hearts

An improved assay was used to investigate the effects of hypoxia or ischemia on interstitial fluid and coronary venous effluent levels of adenosine in isolated perfused nonworking rat hearts. The adenosine in 5- to 10-microliter samples of left ventricular epicardial surface transudates and coronary effluents was reacted with chloroacetaldehyde, and the fluorescent derivative (1,N6-ethenoadenosine) was quantitated using high pressure liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection. Hearts responding to hypoxia could be separated into two groups. In one group of hearts, the control (normoxic) transudate and effluent adenosine concentrations were 94 +/- 24 and 41 +/- 6 pmol/ml, respectively. These values increased by 118 and 96%, respectively, with 5 minutes of hypoxia (30% O2), and returned to control levels 5 minutes after resumption of normoxia. In a second group of hearts, the normoxic control levels of adenosine in the transudates (42 +/- 7 pmol/ml) and coronary effluents (62 +/- 17 pmol/ml) were increased with hypoxia by 174 and 1,178%, respectively. However, the transudate levels continued to rise for 5 minutes after resumption of normoxic perfusion while effluent levels fell. In another series of hearts, global ischemia for 30 seconds elicited an elevation of transudate adenosine levels by 362 to 641% above control (58 +/- 15 pmol/ml) as determined 30 seconds after resumption of perfusion flow.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Endogenous adenosine inhibits catecholamine contractile responses in normoxic hearts

The importance of endogenous myocardial adenosine in attenuating catecholamine-elicited contractile responses was investigated in perfused oxygenated rat hearts. Perfusion of the isolated hearts with adenosine deaminase potentiated the isoproterenol-induced increases of three contractile variables (left ventricular pressure development and rates of both left ventricular pressure development and relaxation). The peak (maximal, within 30 s) and maintained (after 1 min) increases of the contractile variables caused by 10(-8) M isoproterenol were enhanced by 15-22 and 31-43%, respectively. Adenosine deaminase appeared in epicardial surface transudates of similarly perfused hearts, indicating that the enzyme had entered the myocardial interstitial space. Isoproterenol alone elevated the release of adenosine into coronary effluents of isoproterenol-stimulated hearts, and adenosine deaminase prevented the release of the nucleoside. The higher the level of adenosine in the effluent, the greater the reduction of the peak contractile variables. Phenylisopropyladenosine at 10(-8) M prevented the adenosine deaminase potentiation of 10(-9) M isoproterenol-induced contractile responses. The adenosine analogue at 10(-6) M blocked completely the isoproterenol-produced increases in the contractile variables. These results suggest that endogenous adenosine prevents full mechanical responsiveness to beta-adrenoceptor stimulation in the oxygenated myocardium. In addition, the findings support the notion that adenosine serves as an important negative feedback modulator in the oxygenated heart.

Nicotine increases heart adenosine release, oxygen consumption, and contractility

The effect of nicotine on adenosine release, oxygen consumption, and contractility was investigated in perfused rat hearts. Continuous infusion of nicotine into the perfusing physiological saline (PS) elicited a propranolol (10(-6) M) sensitive transient elevation of developed left ventricular pressure (LVP) and maximum rates of left ventricular pressure development and relaxation (+/- dP/dtmax) within 20 s, which subsequently declined to maintained elevated plateau levels by 1 min. The continuous infusions of nicotine to achieve PS concentrations of 5 X 10(-4), 1 X 10(-4), or 5 X 10(-5) M, respectively resulted in significant increases in the mean plateau levels of LVP (33.4, 10.1, or 6.3%), +dP/dtmax (26.3, 10.8, or 6.9%) and-dP/dtmax (35.0, 11.9, or 9.0%) at 1 min. The inclusion of propranolol (10(-6) M) with or without atropine (10(-6) M) did not alter these maintained plateau responses to nicotine. During the plateau phase of the contractile response oxygen consumption of the hearts was significantly elevated by 36, 19, or 11%, and mean levels for adenosine in the coronary effluent rose by 261, 76, or 74% in response to 5 X 10(-4), 1 X 10(-4), or 5 X 10(-5) M nicotine, respectively. Nicotine did not influence [14C]adenosine uptake by the hearts. These results suggest that nicotine is capable of 1) augmenting cardiac contractility and oxygen consumption independent of beta-adrenergic or muscarinic influence, and 2) elevating the appearance of adenosine in the coronary circulation presumably by enhancing myocardial production of the nucleoside.

Adenosine and calcium alter adrenergic-induced intact heart protein phosphorylation

Adenosine reduces cardiac mechanical and metabolic manifestations of catecholamine stimulation possibly by attenuating catecholamine-enhanced adenylate cyclase activity and sarcolemmal Ca2+ flux. The effects of adenosine and Ca2+ on catecholamine-induced myocardial protein phosphorylation were investigated using isolated rat hearts perfused with a 32P-enriched medium. Isoproterenol (10(-7) M, 1 min) elicited a 107-379% increase in 32P incorporation into proteins having molecular weights of 155, 92, 30, 28, 22, and 20 kdaltons. The left ventricular pressures and maximum rates of ventricular pressure development and ventricular relaxation were significantly elevated. These effects of isoproterenol were inhibited by propranolol (10(-5) M). Adenosine (10(-5) M, 2 min) decreased the isoproterenol-elicited increases in 32P incorporation by 50-86% and decreased the contractile responses but had no effect in the absence of isoproterenol. Raising the perfusion Ca2+ concentration from 1 to 4 mM did not alter the 32P incorporations but increased contractile parameters. The increase in Ca2+ augmented the isoproterenol 32P responses but not the contractile responses to isoproterenol. These results are consistent with the proposal that catecholamines augment cardiac metabolism and contractility by enhancing myocardial protein phosphorylation. Adenosine and Ca2+ modulate these responses.

Effect of adenosine on calcium uptake by intact and cultured vascular smooth muscle

The effect of adenosine (ADO), a potent vasodilator, on the cellular calcium uptake by vascular smooth muscle (VSM) was studied. In addition, similar experiments were conducted with other vasoactive agents to ensure the validity of results obtained with the cultured VSM cell model. Primary VSM monolayers from rat aorta were incubated for 30 min in 45Ca-enriched physiological salt solution (PSS) (37 degrees C) and washed with 20 mM Ca-EGTA (4 degrees C) to remove extracellular 45Ca. Calcium uptake with 4.6 mM K+ was 65.3 +/- 2.4 pmol Ca/10(5) cells. Verapamil (10(-6) M) or 4 degrees C incubation decreased this value 27 and 65%, respectively, whereas ADO (10(-7) M) and isoproterenol (10(-6) M) elevated calcium uptake 21 and 9%, respectively. Elevation of extracellular K+ (25 mM) increased calcium uptake to 87.8 +/- 5.0 pmol Ca/10(5) cells. ADO (10(-7) M), isoproterenol (10(-6) M), and 4 degrees C incubation significantly attenuated this K+-induced increase 25, 19, and 64%, respectively. The calcium uptake of nondepolarized cells was not changed by norepinephrine (10(-6) M) in the presence of either alpha- or beta-adrenergic blockade. Experiments were performed in a similar manner with porcine carotid artery strips in the presence of alpha- and beta-adrenergic blockade. Calcium uptake increased from 2.3 +/- 0.2 X 10(-7) to 3.0 +/- 0.1 X 10(-7) mol Ca/g wet wt after elevation of the medium K+ to 25 mM. This increase was inhibited by 10(-6) M ADO. ADO (10(-6) M) was found to have no effect on the 45Ca efflux from cultured VSM. It is concluded that ADO relaxes VSM by reducing the inward movement of calcium during stimulation. The significant ADO-induced elevation of cellular calcium under conditions when cultured cells were not partially depolarized suggests the existence of an enhanced calcium sequestration within these cells.

Adenosine and the acid-base state of vascular smooth muscle

Hog carotid artery media was incubated under conditions of normocapnia (95% O2-5% CO2) and hypercapnia (nominally 75% O2-25%CO2). The intracellular pH (pHi) was determined from the distribution of 14C-labeled 5,5-dimethyloxazoladine-2,4-dione, alpha- and beta-receptor antagonists were used to block the effects of endogenous catecholamines. With 5% CO2, adenosine had no effect on the pHi. High K+ (25mM) and dipyridamole (DPM) induced a cellular metabolic acidosis that was reversed by adenosine and not affected by 0.5 mM ca2+ or ouabain. Hypercapnia decreased the resting pHi from 7.30 to 6.79. Adenosine significantly attenuated this decrease. With high K+ or DPM, a similar degree of hypercapnia only depressed the pHi to 6.91 and 6.90, respectively. The alkalinizing effect of high K+ and DPM was not altered by 0.5 mM Ca2+, was partically reversed by ouabain, and was completely reversed by adenosine. These results suggest that, under normocapnic conditions, although adenosine relaxes the contraction associated with K+-depolarization, it does not do so by elevating cellular proton levels. However, adenosine may decrease a tissue's ability to attenuate a local respiratory acidosis characteristic of increased O2 demand, resulting in relaxation under hypercapnic conditions. In any case, this demonstrates an interaction, with respect to the acid-base state of the vascular smooth muscle cells, among adenosine, K+, and H+, all suggested components of the metabolic theory of blood flow autoregulation.

The effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP and glucagon on the myocardial cell pH1

DBcAMP or crystalline glucagon was utilized to elevate the intracellular cyclic AMP concentration in isolated rat hearts. Butyric acid, a metabolite of DBcAMP, was also investigated. Their effect on the intracellular pH (pHi) as determined by the distribution of [14C]DMO was investigated. Rat hearts, perfused with a recirculated modified Krebs-Henseleit solution maintained at 30 degrees C, were exposed to respiratory acidosis by bubbling the perfusate with 20% CO2. alpha- and beta-receptor antagonists were used to block the effects of endogenous catecholamines. Hypercapnia decreased the pHi from 7.09 to 6.82. A similar degree of hypercapnia decreased the pHi to only 6.95 in the presence of DBcAMP and to only 6.96 in the presence of glucagon. The effective buffer values (delta[HCO-3]i/deltapHi) were: control, 19; butyric acid, 16; DBcAMP, 139; glucagon, 148. These data suggest that cAMP mediates the effect of norepinephrine, which has been shown to diminish the change in pHi accompanying respiratory acidosis.

Effect of beta-adrenoreceptor blockade on rat cardiac and skeletal muscle pH

The effect of catecholamines on the intracellular pH of rat cardiac and skeletal muscle during varying extracellular acid-base states was determined. Intracellualr pH (pHi) was calculated from the distribution of [14C]DMO. Acid-base disturbances were produced by placing the animals in an environmental chamber containing 10 or 20% CO2 or by administering HCL or NaHCO3. Two hours later the animals were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital and blood and tissue samples obtained. In one series of animals, the effects of catecholamines were attenuated by administering the beta-adrenoreceptor antagonist MJ 1999 (Sotalol). In animals breathing 20% CO2, cardiac muscle pH was lower in beta-blocked than unblocked animals (6.69 vs. 6.78). During metabolic acidosis, cardiac muscle pH of beta-blocked animals was lower than that of unblocked animals (6.75 vs. 6.84). The same relationship was observed for skeletal muscle during metabolic acidosis-beta blockade pHi, 6.66; unblocked pHi, 6.77. The pHi of beta-blocked versus unblocked animals was not significantly different under normal acid-base conditions or metabolic alkalosis for cardiac or skeletal muscle. The effective buffer value of both tissue over the normal acidotic range was decreased by the beta-blocking agent. These results indicate that catecholamine release accompanying acidosis attenuates the change in pHI and increases the effective buffer value of cardiac and skeletal muscle.