[3H]adenosine binding to bovine coronary arteries and myocardium

Characteristics of adenosine binding sites in atrial sarcolemmal membranes

The studies reported here involve an exploration of the sites on atrial myocyte membranes with which adenosine interacts to produce its potent physiological effects in atrial muscle. Specific, high affinity binding of the stable adenosine analogs 2-chloro[3H]adenosine (2-ClAdo) and [3H]adenosine 5'-N-ethylcarboxamide (NECA) to atrial sarcolemmal membranes was measured in kinetic and equilibrium studies at 4 degrees C and 35 degrees C. Analysis of the [3H]2-ClAdo binding isotherm indicated the presence of two classes of binding site with equilibrium Kassoc values estimated to be 5.7 X 10(7) M-1 and 2.7 X 10(6) M-1. Displacement of bound [3H]2-ClAdo by adenosine 5'-N-cyclopropylcarboxamide (NCPCA) and by several N6-substituted adenosine analogs confirmed the presence of two classes of binding site. Analysis of the [3H]NECA binding also revealed the presence of two types of binding site for this ligand. The methylxanthines isobutylmethylxanthine and theophylline displaced bound [3H]2-ClAdo whereas adenosine uptake inhibitors and several other purines showed little activity. These atrial membrane binding sites exhibit many of the characteristics of the physiological adenosine receptors studied in intact atria. Furthermore, the [3H]2-ClAdo binding sites were sensitive to treatment with proteolytic enzymes, suggesting that these sites exist on sarcolemmal membrane proteins.

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.