Age-related changes in adenosine-mediated relaxation of coronary and aortic smooth muscle.

We tested whether adenosine mediates nitric oxide (NO)-dependent and NO-independent dilation in coronary and aortic smooth muscle and whether age selectively impairs NO-dependent adenosine relaxation. Responses to adenosine and the relatively nonselective analog 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) were studied in coronary vessels and aortas from immature (1-2 mo), mature (3-4 mo), and moderately aged (12-18 mo) Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats. Adenosine and NECA induced biphasic concentration-dependent coronary vasodilation, with data supporting high-sensitivity (pEC(50) = 5.2-5.8) and low-sensitivity (pEC(50) = 2.3-2.4) adenosine sites. Although sensitivity to adenosine and NECA was unaltered by age, response magnitude declined significantly. Treatment with 50 microM N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) markedly inhibited the high-sensitivity site, although response magnitude still declined with age. Aortic sensitivity to adenosine declined with age (pEC(50) = 4.7 +/- 0.2, 3.5 +/- 0.2, and 2.9 +/- 0.1 in immature, mature, and moderately aged aortas, respectively), and the adenosine receptor transduction maximum also decreased (16.1 +/- 0.8, 12.9 +/- 0.7, and 9.6 +/- 0.7 mN/mm(2) in immature, mature, and moderately aged aortas, respectively). L-NAME decreased aortic sensitivity to adenosine in immature and mature tissues but was ineffective in the moderately aged aorta. Data collectively indicate that 1) adenosine mediates NO-dependent and NO-independent coronary and aortic relaxation, 2) maturation and aging reduce NO-independent and NO-dependent adenosine responses, and 3) the age-related decline in aortic response also involves a reduction in the adenosine receptor transduction maximum.

Acute but not chronic caffeine impairs functional responses to ischaemia-reperfusion in rat isolated perfused heart.

1. The effect of acute (50 micromol/L) and chronic (0.06% in drinking water for 14 days) caffeine on the response to ischaemia-reperfusion was studied in Wistar rat isolated perfused hearts. 2. Neither acute nor chronic caffeine modified normoxic heart rate or left ventricular pressures. However, acute caffeine decreased coronary flow by up to 20%, while chronic caffeine consumption increased coronary flow by approximately 15% and abolished the vasoconstrictor effect of acute caffeine (P<0.05). 3. After 15 min global ischaemia, chronic caffeine treatment did not alter the recovery of left ventricular diastolic pressure (LVDP), end-diastolic pressure (EDP) or heart rate during reperfusion, but did enhance coronary flow rate (P<0.05). Acute caffeine inhibited the recovery of LVDP and elevated postischaemic EDP in both caffeine-naive and chronic caffeine-treated groups. Acute caffeine also significantly inhibited coronary reflow in naive but not chronic caffeine-treated groups and produced a transient tachycardia during reperfusion in hearts from chronic caffeine-treated rats. 4. The incidence of arrhythmias was unaltered by chronic caffeine treatment, but was increased by acute caffeine in both naive and chronic caffeine hearts. 5. In conclusion, chronic caffeine intake alone has no detrimental effects on recovery from ischaemia; however, acute caffeine worsens postischaemic contractile function in hearts from naive and chronic caffeine-treated rats.

Age-related changes in A(1)-adenosine receptor-mediated bradycardia.

The impact of age on functional sensitivity to A(1)-adenosine receptor activation was studied in Langendorff-perfused hearts from young (1-2 mo) and old (12-18 mo) male Wistar rats. Adenosine mediated bradycardia in young and old hearts, with sensitivity enhanced approximately 10-fold in old [negative logarithm of EC(50) (pEC(50)) = 4.56 +/- 0.11] versus young hearts (pEC(50) = 3.70 +/- 0. 09). Alternatively, the nonmetabolized A(1) agonists N(6)-cyclohexyladenosine and (R)-N(6)-phenylisopropyladenosine were equipotent in young (pEC(50) = 7.43 +/- 0.12 and 6.61 +/- 0.19, respectively) and old hearts (pEC(50) = 7.07 +/- 0.10 and 6.80 +/- 0. 11, respectively), suggesting a role for uptake and/or catabolism in age-related changes in adenosine sensitivity. In support of this suggestion, [(3)H]-adenosine uptake was approximately twofold greater in young than in old hearts (from 3-100 microM adenosine). However, although inhibition of adenosine deaminase and adenosine transport with 10 microM erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine hydrochloride and 10 microM S-(4-nitrobenzyl)-6-thioinosine increased adenosine sensitivity three- to fourfold, it failed to abolish the sensitivity difference in old (pEC(50) = 4.95 +/- 0.08) versus young (pEC(50) = 4.29 +/- 0.13) hearts. Data indicate that 1) age increases functional A(1) receptor sensitivity to adenosine without altering the sensitivity of the A(1) receptor itself, and 2) age impairs adenosine transport and/or catabolism, but this does not explain differing functional sensitivity to adenosine. This increased functional sensitivity to adenosine may have physiological significance in the older heart.

Age-related changes in adenosine in rat coronary resistance vessels.

1. The vasodilator effects of adenosine receptor agonists, isoprenaline and histamine were examined in perfused heart preparations from young (4-6 weeks) and mature (12-20 weeks) rats. 2. Adenosine induced a biphasic concentration-dependent decrease in KCl (35 mM) raised coronary perfusion pressure in hearts from young and mature rats, suggesting the presence of both high- and low-affinity sites for adenosine receptors in the two age groups tested. In heart preparations from mature rats, vasodilator responses to adenosine were significantly reduced compared with responses observed in young rats. 3. Responses to 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) and 2-p-(2-carboxyethyl)phenethylamino-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine hydrochloride (CGS-21680) were reduced in preparations from mature rats, whereas the vasodilator actions of N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) and N6-2-(4-aminophenyl)ethyladenosine (APNEA) did not change with age. 4. The results presented in this study suggest that several adenosine receptor subtypes mediate vasodilator responses in the coronary circulation of the rat and that a reduction in response to adenosine with age may be due to changes in the high-affinity receptor site.

Functional characterization of adenosine receptors in the nucleus tractus solitarius mediating hypotensive responses in the rat.

1. The aim of this study was to characterize adenosine receptors located in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) that mediate decreases in blood pressure in the anaesthetized rat. To determine the adenosine receptor subtype involved, a range of selective agonists and antagonists were studied and their relative potencies evaluated. 2. The rank order of agonist potency in inducing decreases in diastolic blood pressure was N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) > N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA) > N-ethyl-carboxamidoadenosine (NECA) > or = 2-phenylaminoadenosine (CV1808) > 2-p-(carboxyethyl)phenethylamino-5' N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (CGS 21680) > N6-(2-(4-aminophenyl)ethyl)-adenosine (APNEA). 3. The hypotensive action of CPA following microinjection into the NTS was antagonized by i.v. infusions (50 micrograms kg-1 min-1) of adenosine receptor antagonists, 8-cyclopentyl-1,3 dipropylxanthine (DPCPX), 8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT), 8-(p-sulphophenyl)theophylline (8-SPT), and 1,3-dipropyl-8-N-(2-diethylamino)ethyl)-N methyl-4-(2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-2,6-dioxo) benzenesulphonamidexanthine (PD 115199). The antagonist potency order was DPCPX > PD115199 > or = 8-PT. Intravenous infusion of 8-SPT had no effect on blood pressure responses to microinjection of CPA into the NTS. 4. The results suggest that adenosine A1 receptors in the NTS mediate hypotensive responses in the anaesthetized rat preparation.

Changes in adenosine receptors mediating hypotension in morphine-dependent rats.

The hypotensive actions of morphine have been shown to be mediated by adenosine. Since tolerance has been reported to the hypotensive effects of morphine, this study was designed to determine whether morphine dependence altered adenosine receptor-mediated decreases in blood pressure in the Hooded Wistar rat. Following the induction of morphine dependence, the effects of adenosine receptor agonists and antagonists were studied in intact and pithed rat preparations. The hypotensive effects of adenosine were significantly less in morphine-dependent rats when compared to opiate naive rats. The adenosine A1 receptor agonist cyclohexyladenosine induced decreases in diastolic blood pressure which were significantly reduced in morphine-dependent rats when compared to opiate naive rats. However, the adenosine A2A receptor agonist 2-p-(carboxyethyl)-phenylamino-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (CGS 21680) had a greater effect on blood pressure in morphine-dependent rats compared to opiate naive rats. The effects of adenosine receptor antagonists 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine, 8-phenyltheophylline, 8-(p-sulfophenyl)theophylline and 3,7-dimethyl-1-propargylxanthine infused at 50 micrograms/kg per min on the hypotensive actions of adenosine were studied in opiate naive and morphine-dependent rats. In intact rats the induction of morphine dependence reduced the potency of these antagonists at inhibiting adenosine-induced decreases in blood pressure. The same series of experiments was conducted in the pithed rat preparation. In this case the hypotensive actions of both cyclohexyladenosine and CGS 21680 were greater in morphine-dependent rats than opiate naive rats. In pithed rats, morphine dependence did not change the potencies of adenosine receptor antagonists on the hypotensive actions of adenosine. These results suggest that adenosine A1 receptors are downregulated in morphine-dependent rats, and that adenosine A2 receptors are upregulated in morphine-dependent rats.

The role of adenosine in the hypotensive actions of morphine.

The role of adenosine in the hypotensive action of morphine was examined in the pentobarbitone anaesthetized or pithed rat preparations. Adenosine (10-300 micrograms/kg) induced dose-dependent decreases in diastolic blood pressure in the anaesthetized rat preparation. These effects were attenuated by infusion of 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX; 50 micrograms/kg/min), 8-phenyltheophylline (8PT; 50 micrograms/kg) also induced dose-dependent decreases in diastolic blood pressure. Guanethidine (16 micrograms/kg/min), atropine (1 mg/kg), DPCPX and 8 PT reduced the effect of morphine on diastolic blood pressure, whilst DMPX (50 micrograms/kg/min) was inactive. In the pithed rat preparation morphine was inactive at doses up to 10 mg/kg. The results suggest that the hypotensive effect of morphine is mediated at least in part by the release of adenosine which then acts on centrally located adenosine receptors to induce changes in autonomic control of blood pressure.

Evidence that A2 purinoceptors are involved in endothelium-dependent relaxation of the rat thoracic aorta.

1. The effect of adenosine and some adenosine analogues on the isolated thoracic aorta from rats was compared with the effect of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP). 2. Both ATP and adenosine analogues caused relaxation of the noradrenaline (30 nM)-contracted thoracic aorta. 3. The order of potency for adenosine analogues was 5'-(N-ethyl) carboxamidoadenosine (NECA) greater than L-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (L-PIA), adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP), adenosine indicating the presence of adenosine A2 receptors. 4. Removal of the endothelium or prior treatment with haemoglobin (10 microM) attenuated relaxant responses to both ATP and NECA, attenuation being greater for ATP than NECA. 5. 8-Phenyltheophylline (10 microM) reduced relaxant responses to NECA but not to ATP in the intact tissue. 6. These results provide evidence that there are two components to relaxation of the rat thoracic aorta induced by purinoceptor agonists. The first is an endothelium-dependent mechanism involving release of endothelium-derived relaxant factor (EDRF) and the second is due to a direct effect on smooth muscle.