Demonstration of adenylate cyclase coupled adenosine receptors in guinea pig ventricular membranes

Role of cardiac β1-adrenergic and A1-adenosine receptors in severe arrhythmias related to Parkinson's disease

AIMS

Although reduced life expectancy in Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients has been related to severe cardiac arrhythmias due to autonomic dysfunctions, its molecular mechanisms remain unclear. To investigate the role of cardiac β1-Adrenergic (β1AR) and A1-Adenosine (A1R) receptors in these dysfunctions, the pharmacological effects of stimulation of cardiac β1AR (isoproterenol, ISO), in the absence and presence of cardiac β1AR (atenolol, AT) or A1R (1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentyl xanthine, DPCPX) blockade, on the arrhythmias induced by Ischemia/Reperfusion (CIR) in an animal PD model were studied.

METHODS

PD was produced by dopaminergic lesions (confirmed by immunohistochemistry analysis) caused by the injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA, 6 μg) in rat striatum. CIR was produced by a surgical interruption for 10 min followed by reestablishment of blood circulation in the descendent left coronary artery. On the incidence of CIR-Induced Ventricular Arrhythmias (VA), Atrioventricular Block (AVB), and Lethality (LET), evaluated by Electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis, the effects of intravenous treatment with ISO, AT and DPCPX (before CIR) were studied.

RESULTS

VA, AVB and LET incidences were significantly higher in 6-OHDA (83%, 92%, 100%, respectively) than in control rats (58%, 67% and 67%, respectively). ISO treatment significantly reduced these incidences in 6-OHDA (33%, 33% and 42%, respectively) and control rats (25%, 25%, 33%, respectively), indicating that stimulation of cardiac β1AR induced cardioprotection. This response was prevented by pretreatment with AT and DPCPX, confirming the involvement of cardiac β1AR and A1R.

CONCLUSION

Pharmacological modulation of cardiac β1AR and A1R could be a potential therapeutic strategy to reduce severe arrhythmias and increase life expectancy in PD patients.

Cardiac purinergic signalling in health and disease

This review is a historical account about purinergic signalling in the heart, for readers to see how ideas and understanding have changed as new experimental results were published. Initially, the focus is on the nervous control of the heart by ATP as a cotransmitter in sympathetic, parasympathetic, and sensory nerves, as well as in intracardiac neurons. Control of the heart by centers in the brain and vagal cardiovascular reflexes involving purines are also discussed. The actions of adenine nucleotides and nucleosides on cardiomyocytes, atrioventricular and sinoatrial nodes, cardiac fibroblasts, and coronary blood vessels are described. Cardiac release and degradation of ATP are also described. Finally, the involvement of purinergic signalling and its therapeutic potential in cardiac pathophysiology is reviewed, including acute and chronic heart failure, ischemia, infarction, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, syncope, hypertrophy, coronary artery disease, angina, diabetic cardiomyopathy, as well as heart transplantation and coronary bypass grafts.

Effects of theophylline and dibutyryl-cAMP on adenosine receptors and heart rate in cultured cardiocytes

The effects of chronic exposure to the adenosine antagonist theophylline (Theo) and dibutyryl cyclic-AMP, a membrane-permeant derivative of the second messenger 3', 5'-cyclic-AMP (cAMP), on contractions and adenosine receptor levels in cultured cardiocytes were studied. Binding of the A1-adenosine receptor antagonist [3H]8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine ([3H]CPX) was used to monitor the level of the receptors in intact cardiocytes. Both Theo and cAMP stimulated the rate of contraction and also increased the density of adenosine receptors. The Bmax value for [3H]CPX binding to intact cardiocytes was increased by 45-47% following 4 days of exposure to either 50 microM Theo or 100 microM cAMP. Scatchard analysis indicated that the affinity of the A1 receptors for [3H]CPX remained unchanged (Kd 0.1-0.2 nM). No significant differences were observed in protein content or in cell number. A linear correlation was achieved between the level of A1-adenosine receptors and heart rate at various Theo and dibutyryl-cAMP concentrations, although Theo was more efficient in elevation of the receptor density. Increases of 82, 78, 138 and 235% in A1 receptor density and increases of 63, 59, 66 and 150% in heart rate were obtained following 5 days of treatment with 1, 10, and 1000 microM of Theo, respectively. It is concluded that there is a linkage between the rate of cardiac contractions and the level of adenosine receptors. Thus, changes in the density of adenosine receptors may compensate for chronic drug-induced changes in cardiac contractile activity so as to restore conditions to the normal state.

Identification and characterization of adenosine A1 receptor-cAMP system in human glomeruli

Although adenosine is known to affect renal function through stimulating adenosine receptors, little is known about A1 receptors in human glomeruli. Thus, we attempted to identify the adenosine A1 receptor-cyclic AMP (cAMP) system in human glomeruli. Normal renal cortical tissues were obtained at nephrectomy of patients with renal cell carcinoma. Glomeruli were isolated using a graded sieving method or dissected manually under a stereomicroscope. Radioligand binding assay using 2-chloro-N-[3H] cyclopentyl adenosine ([3H]CCPA, an A1 agonist ligand) was performed at 30 degrees C for 90 minutes. Cyclic AMP (cAMP) produced in glomeruli was measured after incubation with different concentrations of N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA; A1 agonist) and a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. The specific binding was saturated within 60 minutes and reversible by adding 1 mM of theophylline. Scatchard plot analysis revealed a single class of binding site (Kd = 1.78 +/- 0.21 nM, Bmax = 271.7 +/- 35.8 fmol/mg protein). The specific binding was inhibited dose-dependently by various agents in an order suggesting A1 receptor specificity. CHA inhibited the production of cAMP in microdissected human glomeruli. This inhibitory effect was antagonized by 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX; A1 antagonist). This is the first study revealing the presence of the A1 receptor-cAMP system in human glomeruli using a radioligand binding assay method and by measuring the cAMP production.

A1-adenosine receptor inhibition of adenylate cyclase in failing and nonfailing human ventricular myocardium

BACKGROUND

Receptors that couple via the stimulatory G protein, Gs, to adenylate cyclase and to a positive inotropic response have been extensively investigated in falling human heart. In contrast, much less is known about receptors, such as the A1-adenosine receptor, that couple to adenylate cyclase via the inhibitory G protein, Gi, to give a negative inotropic response. Activation of such Gi-coupled receptors might worsen heart failure. Furthermore, alpha Gi is increased in failing human ventricular myocardium, which may enhance inhibitory receptor coupling to adenylate cyclase.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A1-Adenosine receptor inhibition of adenylate cyclase was examined in crude particulate preparations derived from 12 nonfailing and 12 failing human left ventricles. Experimental conditions were designed for maximal inhibitory responses. Dose-response curves were performed with the selective A1-adenosine receptor agonist R-phenylisopropyl-adenosine (R-PIA). No differences in nonfailing versus failing heart were observed for basal adenylate cyclase activity (49.0 +/- 4.1 versus 45.7 +/- 2.6 pmol cyclic AMP/min/mg), maximal R-PIA-mediated inhibition (31.1 +/- 2.6 versus 30.2 +/- 1.6 pmol cyclic AMP/min/mg), ED50 (R-PIA x 10(-7) 1.28 +/- 0.10 versus 1.36 +/- 0.08), or slope (1.06 +/- 0.06 versus 1.03 +/- 0.10), respectively. Furthermore, fluoride, forskolin, and manganese adenylate cyclase activation were not different in failing heart, which is consistent with no change in the catalytic unit of adenylate cyclase. The inhibitory G protein alpha Gi, as quantitated by pertussis toxin-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation, was increased in failing heart (105.7 +/- 5.8 versus 132.7 +/- 3.4 optical density units, p less than 0.003). Basal adenylate cyclase activity was reduced in failing heart (7.8 +/- 0.8 versus 4.5 +/- 0.4 pmol cyclic AMP/min/mg, p less than 0.005) with assay conditions designed to assess G protein effects.

CONCLUSIONS

The A1-adenosine receptor pathway exerts a major inhibitory effect on human myocardial adenylate cyclase activity. Although alpha Gi was increased in failing heart, A1-adenosine receptor inhibition of adenylate cyclase was not altered in preparations of failing versus nonfailing human ventricular myocardium.

Multiple controls by adenosine receptors on the adenylate cyclase in the rat hepatic membrane

The effects of an adenosine analog, N6-phenyl-isopropyl-adenosine (PIA), on the glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in rat hepatic membranes were studied. Adenosine at high concentrations (greater than 10 microM) has been reported exclusively to inhibit the adenylate cyclase via intracellular P-sites of the hepatic membrane. The stimulation by glucagon of the enzyme was attenuated by nanomolar concentrations of PIA in the presence of low concentrations (less than 1.0 microM) of GTP, indicating the effect of the guanine nucleotide inhibitory system (Ni). This inhibition by PIA required the presence of sodium chloride and was antagonized with isobutyl methylxanthine, an antagonist for the extracellular R-site receptors. The inhibitory effects of PIA disappeared and reversed into a stimulatory phase with increasing concentrations of GTP, suggesting the presence of a stimulatory (Ns) and an inhibitory (Ni) guanine nucleotide system of the enzyme in the action of the adenosine. PIA concentrations over a micromolar were observed to stimulate the enzyme activity in a GTP-dependent manner, indicating the presence of the stimulatory receptor (A2 or Ra) coupled to the Ns. These results suggest that receptors for adenosine of the inhibitory type (A1 or Ri) and the stimulatory type (A2 or Ra) are present on the rat hepatic membrane, showing multiple controls of the adenylate cyclase system, depending on the cellular concentrations of GTP and/or sodium chloride.

Characterization of A1 adenosine receptors in atrial and ventricular myocardium from diseased human hearts

The purpose of the present study was to characterize adenosine receptors in human atrial and ventricular myocardium. In isolated electrically driven preparations, adenosine produced "direct" negative inotropic effects in atrial myocardium (AT). In ventricular myocardium (VE), it only had negative inotropic properties when force of contraction had been stimulated with isoprenaline ("indirect" effect), but it has no inotropic effect alone. The adenosine receptor antagonist 8-phenyltheophylline antagonized the "direct" and "indirect" effects; these findings indicated that both effects were mediated by adenosine receptors. In cardiac membranes from human AT and VE, adenosine receptors were characterized with [3H]-8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX) binding. The effects of agonists R-(-)-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (R-PIA), S-(+)-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (S-PIA), and 5'-(N-ethylcarboxamido) adenosine (NECA) and the effects of guanine nucleotides [Gpp(NH)p] were studied also. The antagonist affinities as judged from the apparent affinity, Kd, of [3H]DPCPX were similar in AT (2.2 nmol/l; 95% confidence limits, 1.4-3.7) and VE (1.8 nmol/l; 95% confidence limits, 1.0-3.0). The number of adenosine receptors was 1.7 times greater in AT (26.9 +/- 2.33 fmol/mg protein; n = 5) than in VE (16.2 +/- 2.3 fmol/mg protein; n = 5). High and low affinity states of adenosine receptors evaluated with the influence of Gpp(NH)p on agonist competition with R-PIA were similar in AT or VE. The rank orders of potency for agonists (R-PIA greater than S-PIA greater than NECA) and antagonists (DPCPX greater than 8-phenyltheophylline greater than theophylline) were characteristic for the A1 receptor subtype. It is concluded that A1 adenosine receptors exist in the human myocardium. Since binding properties were similar in AT and VE, the same A1 adenosine receptor probably couples to different effectors in a similar guanine nucleotide-dependent way. [3H]DPCPX is the first radiolabeled antagonist ligand that allows detection of A1 adenosine receptors and their coupling in the human myocardium.

Pronounced cholinergic but only moderate purinergic effects in isolated atrial and ventricular heart muscle from cats

1. The effects of cholinergic and purinergic stimulation on action potential, force of contraction and 86Rb efflux were investigated in cat atrial and/or ventricular heart muscle. 2. Acetylcholine and carbachol exerted a concentration-dependent negative inotropic effect in cat atrial heart muscle. Carbachol 10 mumol l-1 completely abolished the force of contraction and increased the rate constant of 86Rb efflux 2-3 fold, whereas the action potential duration was shortened to about 1/10 of its length under control conditions. 3. The effects of acetylcholine and carbachol in cat atrial heart muscle were mimicked, qualitatively, by adenosine and its analogues 5'-(N-ethyl)-carboxamido-adenosine (NECA) and (-)-N6-(R-phenyl-isopropyl)-adenosine (R-PIA). Maximal purinergic effects, however, amounted to about 15-50% in comparison to those of cholinergic stimulation. 4. In cat ventricular heart muscle, cholinergic or purinergic stimulation had no significant effects on the force of contraction in the absence of a cyclic AMP-dependent positive inotropic effect. Carbachol antagonized the positive inotropic effect elicited by either 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, isoprenaline or cyclic 8-(4-chlorphenylthio)adenosine-3':5'-monophosphate; NECA and R-PIA were less effective. The inhibition by carbachol of the effects of isoprenaline was not related to a change in the rate constant of 86Rb efflux. 5. It is concluded that the effects of cholinoceptor and purinoceptor agonists in the cat heart involve a change in the potassium conductance in the atrium, whereas the effects in the ventricle may be related to changes of intracellular cyclic AMP levels. It seems reasonable to assume that, in comparison to cholinergic stimulation, a low density of purinoceptors in the cat heart is responsible for the relatively weak effects of adenosine agonists in this species.

Effects of adenosine analogues on force and cAMP in the heart. Influence of adenosine deaminase

The effects of the adenosine receptor agonists (-)-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (PIA) and 5'-N-ethylcarboxamideadenosine (NECA) on the force of contraction, adenylate cyclase activity and cAMP content in the presence of isoprenaline (Iso) were studied in ventricular preparations of the guinea-pig heart. Only in the presence of adenosine deaminase (ADA) and 50 mM sodium chloride, i.e. under 'optimal' conditions, did PIA and NECA reduce the Iso-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in broken cell preparations, with a maximal effect of about 25%. In electrically driven (1 Hz) papillary muscles from guinea-pigs, both compounds concentration dependently reduced the Iso-stimulated force of contraction maximally by about 50% in the presence of ADA (1 microgram/ml). cAMP was measured in the same preparations. Low concentrations (0.1-1 microM) of PIA reduced the cyclic AMP content while higher concentrations increased the cyclic AMP content. The negative inotropic effect of NECA was accompanied by a concentration-dependent increase in the cyclic AMP content. We conclude that the negative inotropic effect of PIA in the presence of Iso is only in part due to a decrease in the cyclic AMP content resulting from inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity. Such an effect was only detected in the presence of ADA so that endogenous adenosine can obviously mask small effects of PIA on adenylate cyclase activity or the cyclic AMP content. In addition, the negative inotropic effect of NECA in the presence of isoprenaline was not accompanied by a reduction but an increase in the cyclic AMP content.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Carbamoylcholine-induced accumulation of inositol mono-, bis-, tris- and tetrakisphosphates in isolated cardiac myocytes from adult rats

The effect of carbamoylcholine on the phosphoinositide cycle in isolated ventricular myocytes from adult rats was studied. Separation of the phosphoinositides by high-performance thin-layer chromatography showed a constant ratio of incorporation of myo-[2-3H]inositol into phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate of cultured cardiac myocytes after at least 2 h. Carbamoylcholine caused a dose-dependent and time-dependent accumulation of inositol mono-, bis- and trisphosphates, which was antagonized by atropine. Using anion-exchange HPLC the existence of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, inositol 1,3,4-triphosphate and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate was confirmed in rat ventricular myocytes. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate accumulated within 20 s, while inositol 1,3,4-trisphosphate, inositol 1,4-bisphosphate and inositol monophosphate increased within 5 min.

Pertussis toxin reduces the antiadrenergic effect of 2-chloroadenosine on papillary muscle and the direct negative inotropic effect of 2-chloroadenosine on atrium

2-Chloroadenosine reduced the contractile tension of guinea-pig atria directly, and inhibited the increase in tension produced by beta-adrenergic stimulation of guinea-pig papillary muscle. Both effects were reduced by 8-phenyltheophylline, a competitive antagonist at extracellular P1-purinoceptors. Treatment of guinea-pigs with pertussis toxin reduced the sensitivity of both atria and ventricles to 2-chloroadenosine. Atria were significantly affected after treatment with 125 micrograms/kg toxin, but not 100 micrograms/kg. 60 micrograms/kg toxin had no effect on the sensitivity of the ventricles, but 100 and 125 micrograms/kg significantly decreased the antiadrenergic effect of 2-chloroadenosine. We conclude that both the direct and antiadrenergic effects are mediated by an inhibitory guanine nucleotide binding protein.

An antiadrenergic effect of adenosine on guinea-pig but not rabbit ventricles

The antiadrenergic effect of adenosine was investigated using isolated guinea-pig heart and guinea-pig and rabbit papillary muscle. Adenosine, 15 microM, completely abolished the increased tension stimulated by 0.1-1.0 nM isoprenaline in Langendorff-perfused guinea-pig hearts. With guinea-pig papillary muscles, adenosine decreased by 40% the increased force stimulated by 1-10 nM isoprenaline. When 5 microM 2-chloroadenosine was used in conjunction with 1 unit ml-1 adenosine deaminase, a complete inhibition of the isoprenaline-stimulated tension was seen in guinea-pig papillary muscles. The antiadrenergic effect of 2-chloroadenosine was blocked by 8-phenyltheophylline. In rabbit, there was little effect of 2-chloroadenosine (plus deaminase) on isoprenaline-stimulated tension. (-)-N6 (R-phenylisopropyl)-adenosine (PIA) had no effect on basal or isoprenaline-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity of guinea-pig or rabbit sarcolemmal membranes. We conclude that the antiadrenergic effect of adenosine is mediated by A type receptors and is seen in guinea-pig but not rabbit. Production of adenosine by superfused papillary muscle may obscure the effect of added adenosine. We find no evidence that the antiadrenergic effect is mediated by inhibition of adenylate cyclase.

Interaction between leukotriene D4 and adenosine or iloprost in the isolated working guinea-pig heart: prevention of the leukotriene D4 effect

The interaction between leukotriene D4 and adenosine or the prostacyclin analogue iloprost was studied in isolated guinea-pig hearts. Adenosine (1 X 10(-6) M) or iloprost (5 X 10(-8) M) abolished or greatly attenuated the vasoconstrictive effect of leukotriene D4 over a wide dose range of leukotriene D4 (0.01-1000 ng), and myocardial ischemia as a consequence of coronary insufficiency completely disappeared. Comparison of myocardial levels of reduced pyridine nucleotide fluorescence in hearts treated with leukotriene D4 and in hearts subjected to varying degrees of high-flow hypoxia, or the calcium agonist BAY-K 8644, revealed low levels of reduced pyridine nucleotides in the leukotriene D4-treated hearts, suggesting that leukotriene D4 directly suppressed myocardial contractility. These findings were supported by full restoration of cardiac work by the receptor antagonist FPL 55712 following leukotriene D4 treatment. It is concluded that adenosine and iloprost are potent inhibitors of leukotriene D4-induced reduction in coronary flow in guinea-pig hearts, and that myocardial ischaemia and suppressed cardiac work are prevented during leukotriene D4 study in adenosine or iloprost perfused hearts. Low levels of myocardial-reduced pyridine nucleotides during leukotriene D4 treatment and restoration of cardiac work by FPL 55712 indicate that leukotriene D4 may also have a direct suppressive effect on myocardial contractility.

Stimulation of phosphatidylinositol metabolism in atrial and ventricular myocytes

Receptor-stimulated hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids was studied in atrial and ventricular myocytes isolated from guinea-pigs. Membrane phospholipids were labelled with [3H] inositol and their conversion to [3H] labelled inositol phosphate was measured in the presence of Li+ (10 mM). In the absence of added stimulatory hormones or neurotransmitters, little inositol phosphate accumulation was observed. Acetylcholine and carbachol stimulated inositol phosphate accumulation with a maximum of more than 12 times the unstimulated values in atrial myocytes and 7 times in ventricular myocytes. The EC50 values and 95% confidence limits for acetylcholine and carbachol were 0.9 microM (0.2 - 5.3) and 8.8 microM (6.3 - 11.8) in atria and 0.6 M (0.5 - 0.8) and 10.0 M (1.8 - 55.9) in ventricles, respectively. Oxotremorine was a partial agonist in stimulating inositol phosphate accumulation in both atrial and ventricular myocytes. The vasoactive peptides angiotensin II and vasopressin also stimulated inositol phosphate accumulation but the maximum effect was lower than that mediated through muscarinic receptors. However, the adenosine analogues, L-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine and 5'N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine which, like muscarinic agonists depress cardiac contractility, did not affect inositol phosphate accumulation at concentrations up to 10(-4)M.

Inhibition by adenosine of ACTH-stimulated adenylate cyclase and steroidogenesis in the adrenal cortex

Effects of adenosine analogs on ACTH-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity and steroidogenesis in rat adrenocortical glands have been studied. Adenosine analogs inhibited ACTH-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity by a GTP-dependent process. Methylxanthines reversed the inhibitory effect of N6-phenyl-isopropyl-adenosine (PIA), but not of 2',5'-dideoxy-adenosine. These results suggest that adenosine negatively regulates the stimulation of adenylate cyclase by ACTH at the external and the internal site of the membrane. The inhibitory effect of PIA on ACTH-stimulated steroidogenesis by isolated cells was antagonized by methylxanthines. PIA also inhibited steroidogenesis induced by dibutyryl cAMP, suggesting an inhibitory action of the nucleoside distal to the cAMP system. These results suggest the presence of a common site located in the external membrane for adenosine which subsequently mediates two independent processes, one is negatively coupled to the adenylate cyclase and the other to steroidogenesis for negative feedback controls of the adrenal cortex.

Cardiac sarcolemmal purity is essential for the verification of adenylate cyclase inhibition via A1-adenosine receptors

Inhibition of cardiac adenylate cyclase by adenosine receptor agonists was reinvestigated in a more homogeneous sarcolemmal vesicular preparation than used in a previous study. Microsomal particles obtained by differential centrifugation were further fractionated on a shallow density gradient of Percoll. Two populations of plasma membrane vesicles were partially resolved. Identical peaks were identified for adenylate cyclase activity and [3H]ouabain binding, whereas 5'-nucleotidase activity and beta-adrenoceptor binding displayed an additional peak at higher density, where angiotensin converting enzyme, a marker for endothelial plasma membranes, was at maximal activity. Significant inhibition by N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA), as measured in each fractionation step following homogenization, was observed only at the activity peak of adenylate cyclase. Moreover, analysis of the degree and rank order of potency of several adenosine analogs was indicative for interaction with A1-adenosine receptors. Accordingly, the peak in adenosine receptor binding, using (-)[125I]iodo-N6-hydroxyphenyl-isopropyladenosine as the radioligand, coincided with CHA-inhibitable adenylate cyclase activity. By contrast, adenylate cyclase was slightly stimulated by CHA in the higher density range, an action suggested to be mediated via A2-adenosine receptors, which recently have been demonstrated to exist on guinea-pig coronary endothelium. It is concluded that the full extent of adenosine receptor-mediated adenylate cyclase inhibition in the heart is only to be demonstrated if contamination of the sarcolemmal preparation with endothelial membrane components is kept to a minimum.

Stimulation of phosphatidylinositol metabolism in the heart

Receptor-stimulated hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids was studied in atrial and ventricular myocytes isolated from guinea-pigs. Acetylcholine and carbachol stimulated inositol phosphate accumulation with a maximum of more than 12 times the unstimulated values in atrial myocytes and 7 times in ventricular myocytes. The vasoactive peptides angiotensin II and vasopressin also stimulated inositol phosphate accumulation, but the maximum effect was lower than that mediated through muscarinic receptors. However, the adenosine analogues, L-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine and 5'N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine which, like muscarinic agonists depress cardiac contractility, did not affect inositol phosphate accumulation at concentrations up to 10(-4) mol/l. Stimulation of phosphatidylinositol turnover in heart bears no obvious relationship to either contractility or release of atrial natriuretic factor.

Regulation of adenylate cyclase by adenosine and other agonists in rat myocardial sarcolemma

The presence of adenosine receptors coupled to adenylate cyclase in rat heart sarcolemma is demonstrated in these studies. Heart sarcolemma was isolated by the hypotonic shock-Lithium bromide treatment method. This preparation contained negligible amounts (2-4%) of contamination by other subcellular organelles such as mitochondria, sarcoplasmic reticulum, and myofibrils as verified by electron microscopic examination. In addition this preparation was also devoid of endothelial cells, since angiotensin-converting enzyme activity was not detected in this preparation. N-Ethylcarboxamide adenosine (NECA), L-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (PIA), and adenosine N'-oxide (Ado N'-oxide) were all able to stimulate adenylate cyclase in heart sarcolemma, but not in crude homogenate, with an apparent Ka of 3-7 microM. The activation of adenylate cyclase by NECA was dependent on the concentrations of metal ions such as Mg2+ or Mn2+. The maximal stimulation was observed at lower concentrations of the metal ions (0.2-0.5 mM). At 5 mM Mg2+ or Mn2+, the stimulation by NECA was completely abolished. The stimulatory effect of NECA on adenylate cyclase was also dependent on guanine nucleotides and was blocked by 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. In addition, 2'-deoxyadenosine showed an inhibitory effect on adenylate cyclase. The myocardial adenylate cyclase was also stimulated by beta-adrenergic agonists, dopamine and glucagon, and inhibited by cholinergic agonists such as carbachol and oxotremorine. The stimulation of adenylate cyclase by NECA was found to be additive with maximal stimulation obtained by epinephrine. These data suggest that rat heart sarcolemma contains adenosine (Ra), beta-adrenergic, dopaminergic, glucagon, and cholinergic receptors, and the stimulation of adenylate cyclase by epinephrine and adenosine occurs by distinctly different mechanism or adenosine and epinephrine stimulate different cyclase populations.

Stimulation of adenylate cyclase by adenosine and other agonists in mesenteric artery smooth muscle cells in culture

An adenosine-sensitive adenylate cyclase has been characterized in cultured mesenteric artery smooth muscle cells. N-Ethylcarboxamide-adenosine (NECA), N-Methylcarboxamide-adenosine (MECA), L-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (PIA) and 2-chloroadenosine (2-cl-Ado) all stimulated adenylate cyclase in a concentration dependent manner. NECA was the most potent analog (EC50, 1 microM), whereas PIA (EC50, 15 microM), 2-Cl-Ado (EC50, 15 microM) and MECA (EC50, 24 microM), were less potent and had efficacies relative to NECA of 0.61, 0.61 and 0.65, respectively. Adenosine showed a biphasic effect: stimulation at lower concentrations and inhibition at higher concentrations, whereas 2' deoxyadenosine only inhibited adenylate cyclase activity. The stimulatory effect of NECA on adenylate cyclase was dependent on metal ion concentration and was blocked by 3-isobutyl-l-methylxanthine (IBMX) and 8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT). Adenylate cyclase from these cultured cells was also stimulated by other agonists such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, prostaglandins, dopamine, NaF and forskolin. The stimulation of adenylate cyclase by isoproterenol, epinephrine and norepinephrine was blocked by propranolol but not by phentolamine. On the other hand, phentolamine, propranolol and flupentixol all inhibited dopamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. In addition, the stimulation by an optimal concentration of PIA was additive or almost additive with maximal stimulation caused by catecholamines and prostaglandins. These data indicate the presence of adenosine (Stimulatory "Ra"), catecholamine and prostaglandin receptors in mesenteric artery smooth muscle cells and suggest that these agents may exert their physiological actions through their interaction with their respective receptors coupled to adenylate cyclase.

An investigation of the receptors involved in the coronary vasodilatory effect of adenosine analogues

The coronary vasodilatory effect of stable adenosine analogues is mediated by adenosine A2 receptors. These coronary receptors differ from A2 receptors found in other tissues.

Demonstration of Ri-type adenosine receptors in bovine myocardium by radioligand binding

Adenosine has been shown to have negative inotropic, chronotropic and dromotropic effects on the heart. The pharmacological profiles of these effects suggest that they are mediated via Ri (A1) adenosine receptors, but a direct demonstration of these receptors is still missing. In the present study we report direct labelling of these receptors with (-)N6-[125I]-p-hydroxyphenylisopropyladenosine [( 125I]HPIA)1. The radioligand bound in a saturable and reversible manner to a crude membrane preparation, the Bmax-value was 30.5 fmol/mg protein and the KD-value 1.1 nmol/l. A similar affinity of the ligand was obtained in kinetic and competition experiments. Competition experiments with a variety of adenosine analogues gave a pharmacological profile characteristic of Ri adenosine receptors with high affinities of N6-substituted derivatives and a marked stereospecificity for N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (PIA). Purification of the membrane preparation by density gradient centrifugation resulted in a 30-fold increase in the number of binding sites which was paralleled by a similar increase in the number of binding sites for [3H]ouabain. Guanine nucleotides decreased binding of [125I]HPIA in a dose-dependent manner, but the IC50-values were considerably higher than those reported in other tissues. Finally, binding of [125I]HPIA appeared to be entropy-driven which has been shown to be characteristic of agonist binding to Ri adenosine receptors. These results suggest the presence of Ri adenosine receptors in ventricular myocardium which may be responsible for the mediation of the effects of adenosine and its analogues.

Demonstration of RA - adenosine receptors in rat renal papillae

Adenylate cyclase in homogenates of rat renal papillae was stimulated by adenosine agonist compounds. Adenosine agonists neither stimulated nor inhibited cyclase activity in cortex or medulla. The rank order of agonist potencies was 5'N- ethylcarboxamide adenosine much greater than 2-chloroadenosine greater than L-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine = cyclohexyladenosine greater than D-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine. Stimulation of adenylate cyclase by 5'N- ethylcarboxamide adenosine was competitively antagonised by the methylxanthines, 1,3-diethyl-8- phenylxanthine and 8-phenyltheophylline; 1,3-diethyl-8- phenylxanthine being approximately 10 times more potent than 8-phenyltheophylline. These results demonstrate adenosine receptors of the RA-type localized to the papilla of the rat kidney.

Angiotensin II receptors negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase in rat aorta

Angiotensin II (AII) inhibited adenylate cyclase from rat aorta in a concentration dependent manner. The maximal inhibition (approximately 20%) was observed at 10 microM. The inhibitory effect of angiotensin II was dependent on monovalent cations such as Na+ or Li+ and was blocked by saralasin, an antagonist of angiotensin. Guanine nucleotides such as GTP or GMP-P (NH)P were also required to elicit the inhibition by angiotensin II. In addition, angiotensin II also inhibited the stimulation exerted by catecholamines. These data suggest that angiotensin receptors are present in aorta which are negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase.