Mechanism of adenosine-induced vasodilation in rat diaphragm microcirculation

Efficacy of an adenosine A1 receptor agonist compared with atropine and pralidoxime in a rat model of organophosphate poisoning

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of an adenosine A1 agonist, phenylisopropyl adenosine (PIA), on metamidophos poisoning compared to specific antidotes. Rats were poisoned with metamidophos (30 mg/kg, oral) and observed for 24 hours. One group received sodium chloride (1 mL/kg) and four experimental groups received atropine (5 mg/kg), pralidoxime (PAM, 20 mg/kg), atropine/PAM (5/20 mg/kg) or PIA (1 mg/kg) intraperitoneally. Atropine reduced salivation and prevented respiratory distress when compared to sodium chloride-treated rats. Treatment with PAM did not cause any suppression of cholinergic signs. Atropine and PAM combination prevented salivation, convulsion and respiratory distress. PIA delayed initial time of the salivation, convulsion and time to death. However, PIA was found ineffective against the metamidophos-induced cholinergic symptoms and mortality. All treatments, except PIA, lead to survival of these animals. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was not normalized by PIA or PAM. PIA prevented metamidophos-induced diaphragmatic muscle necrosis as much as PAM. In conclusion, a single dose of PIA was unable to protect the rats from metamidophos toxicity. Further studies are needed involving a combination of PAM and/or atropine with repeated doses of PIA to clarify the efficacy of adenosine agonists in OP poisoning.

Adenosine A2A receptor modulation of juvenile female rat skeletal muscle microvessel permeability

Little is known of the regulation of skeletal muscle microvascular exchange under resting or stimulating conditions. Adenosine (ADO) levels in skeletal muscle increase during physiological (exercise) and pathological (hypoxia, inflammation, and ischemia) conditions. Later stages of these pathologies are characterized by the loss of vascular barrier integrity. This study focused on determining which ADO receptor mediates the robust reduction in microvessel permeability to rat serum albumin (P(s)(RSA)) observed in juvenile female rats. In microvessels isolated from abdominal skeletal muscle, ADO suffusion induced a concentration-dependent reduction in arteriolar [log(IC(50)) = -9.8 +/- 0.2 M] and venular [log(IC(50)) = -8.4 +/- 0.2 M] P(s)(RSA). RT-PCR and immunoblot analysis demonstrated mRNA and protein expression of ADO A(1), A(2A), A(2B), and A(3) receptors in both vessel types, and immunofluorescence assay revealed expression of the four subtype receptors in the microvascular walls (endothelium and smooth muscle). P(s)(RSA) responses of arterioles and venules to ADO were blocked by 8-(p-sulphophenyl)theophylline, a nonselective A(1) and A(2) antagonist. An A(2A) agonist, CGS21680, was more potent than the A(1) agonist, cyclopentyladenosine, or the most-selective A(2B) agonist, 5'-(N-ethylcarboxamido)adenosine. The ability of CGS21680 or ADO to reduce P(s)(RSA) was abolished by the A(2A) antagonist, ZM241385. An adenylyl cyclase inhibitor, SQ22536, blocked the permeability response to ADO. In aggregate, these results demonstrate that, in juvenile females (before the production of the reproductive hormones), ADO enhances skeletal muscle arteriole and venule barrier function predominantly via A(2A) receptors using activation of adenylyl cyclase-signaling mechanisms.

ATP-Sensitive Potassium Channels Are Involved in Adenosine-Induced Reduction of Blood Pressure Variability in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

With a computerized analysis system, blood pressure was recorded continuously in conscious unrestrained spontaneously hypertensive rats. The effects of different adenosine receptor agonists and ATP-sensitive potassium channel opener and blocker on blood pressure variability in spontaneously hypertensive rats were studied. It was found that adenosine, 5'-N-cyclopropyl-carboxamidoadenosine (CPCA, a selective adenosine A2-receptor agonist) and pinacidil (a nonselective ATP-sensitive potassium channel opener) decreased blood pressure variability when one of them was used alone, whereas N -cyclopentyladenosine (CPA, a selective adenosine A1-receptor agonist) had no significant effects on blood pressure variability. When pretreated with glibenclamide (a nonselective ATP-sensitive potassium channel blocker), the inhibitory effects of adenosine and CPCA on blood pressure variability were significantly prevented. By itself, however, glibenclamide had no influence on blood pressure variability. These results suggest that the effect of adenosine on blood pressure variability in spontaneously hypertensive rats is due to activation of ATP-sensitive potassium channels mediated by adenosine A2-receptor.

Differential adenosine sensitivity of diaphragm and skeletal muscle arterioles

The hyperemic response in exercising skeletal muscle is dependent on muscle fiber-type composition and fiber recruitment patterns, but the vascular control mechanisms producing exercise hyperemia in skeletal muscle remain poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that arterioles from white, low-oxidative skeletal muscle are less responsive to adenosine-induced dilation than are arterioles from diaphragm (Dia) and red, high-oxidative skeletal muscle. Second-order arterioles (2As) were isolated from the white portion of gastrocnemius muscle (WG; low-oxidative, fast-twitch muscle tissue) and two types of high-oxidative skeletal muscle [Dia and red portion of gastrocnemius muscle (RG)] of rats. Results reveal that 2As from all three types of muscle dilated in response to the endothelium-dependent dilator acetylcholine (WG: 48 +/- 3%, Dia: 51 +/- 3%, RG: 74 +/- 3%). In contrast, adenosine dilated only 2As from WG (48 +/- 4%) and Dia (46 +/- 5%) but not those from RG (5 +/- 5%). Thus adenosine-induced dilator responses differed among 2As of these different types of muscle tissue. However, the results do not support our hypothesis because 2As from Dia and WG dilated in response to adenosine, whereas 2As from RG did not. We conclude that the adenosine responsiveness of 2As from rat skeletal muscle cannot be predicted only by the fiber-type composition or oxidative capacity of the skeletal muscle tissue wherein the arteriole lies.

Functional characterization of adenosine receptors and coupling to ATP-sensitive K+ channels in Guinea pig urinary bladder smooth muscle

Although multiple adenosine receptors have been identified, the subtype and underlying mechanisms involved in the relaxation response to adenosine in the urinary bladder remain unclear. The present study investigates changes in the membrane potential, as assessed by fluorescence-based techniques, of bladder smooth muscle cells by adenosine receptor agonists acting via ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channels. Membrane hyperpolarization evoked by adenosine and various adenosine receptor subtype-selective agonists was attenuated or reversed by the K(ATP) channel blocker glyburide. Comparison of adenosine receptor agonist potencies eliciting membrane potential effects showed a rank order of potency 5'-N-ethyl-carboxamido adenosine (NECA; -log EC50 = 7.97) approximately 2-p-(2-carboxethyl)phenethyl-amino-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine hydrochloride (CGS-21680; 7.65) > 2-chloro adenosine (5.90) approximately 2-chloro-N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CCPA; 5.51) approximately N6-cyclopentyladenosine approximately N6-(R)-phenylisopropyladenosine > 2-chloro- N6-(3-iodobenzyl)-adenosine-5'-N-methyl-carboxamide (2Cl-IBMECA; 4.78). Membrane potential responses were mimicked by forskolin, a known activator of adenylate cyclase, and papaverine, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. The A(2A)-selective antagonist 4-(2-[7-amino-2-(2-furyl)[1,2,4]triazolo[2,3-a][1,3,5]triazin-5-yl-amino] ethyl)phenol (ZM-241385), and the adenylate cyclase inhibitor N-(cis-2-phenyl-cyclopentyl) azacyclotridecan-2-imine-hydrochloride (MDL-12330A) inhibited the observed change in membrane potential evoked by adenosine and adenosine-receptor agonists. The rank order potency for relaxation of K+-stimulated guinea pig bladder strips, NECA (-log EC50 = 6.41) approximately CGS-21680 (6.38) > 2-chloro adenosine (5.90) >> CCPA approximately 2Cl-IBMECA (>4.0) was comparable to that obtained from membrane potential measurements. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that adenosine-evoked membrane hyperpolarization and relaxation of bladder smooth muscle is mediated by A(2A) receptor-mediated activation of K(ATP) channels via adenylate cyclase and elevation of cAMP.