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Biomedical subjects

L Belardinelli

Publications and source records attributed to L Belardinelli.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Adenosine-sensitive afterdepolarizations and triggered activity in guinea pig ventricular myocytes.

This study examines the cellular basis and specificity of the effects of adenosine on early afterdepolarizations (EADs), delayed afterdepolarizations (DADs), and triggered activity (TA) induced by various drugs with different mechanisms of action. Membrane potential and currents were measured in isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes. Adenosine (10-100 microM) significantly (p less than 0.05) reduced the amplitude of DADs and suppressed TA induced by isoproterenol (10-50 nM) and forskolin (1 microM) but not those induced by dibutyryl cAMP (1 microM), ouabain (1-5 microM), and 7.2 mM [Ca2+]o. Adenosine also abolished EADs and TA induced by isoproterenol. In contrast, adenosine failed to abolish EADs and TA induced by quinidine (3 microM) or those that occurred spontaneously (i.e., in the absence of drugs). Transient inward current (ITi) was induced on repolarization after 2-second-long single depolarizing voltage steps or after 12-second-long trains of 300-msec depolarizing pulses. Concomitant with the attenuation of DADs, adenosine suppressed ITi caused by isoproterenol and forskolin but not those induced by ouabain, dibutyryl cAMP, and elevated [Ca2+]o. The amplitude of ITi was dependent on the magnitude of the activating voltage step, but the suppression of ITi by adenosine was not. The selective A1-adenosine receptor antagonist N-0861 (9-methyladenine derivative) antagonized the effects of adenosine on afterdepolarizations, ITi, and TA. In myocytes from guinea pigs treated with pertussis toxin, adenosine failed to attenuate DADs and ITi or abolish TA induced by isoproterenol or forskolin. In parallel experiments, isoproterenol (10 nM) raised cellular cAMP from 5.7 +/- 0.2 to 8.1 +/- 0.1 pmol and the selective A1 receptor agonist cyclopentyladenosine (5 microM) reduced it to 6.5 +/- 0.2 pmol (p less than 0.05). Thus, adenosine specifically attenuates afterdepolarizations and abolishes TA by suppressing ITiS that are associated with stimulation of adenylate cyclase via a pertussis toxin-sensitive A1 receptor-mediated action. In conclusion, the response of TA to adenosine may identify a mechanism of afterdepolarization related to stimulation of adenylate cyclase.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1992

Evaluation of N-0861, (+-)-N6-endonorbornan-2-yl-9-methyladenine, as an A1 subtype-selective adenosine receptor antagonist in the guinea pig isolated heart.

Activation of cardiac A1 adenosine receptors slows atrioventricular conduction and attenuates the effects of catecholamines, whereas activation of A2 adenosine receptors causes coronary dilation. This study investigates the antagonism of the action of adenosine on A1 and A2 adenosine receptor subtypes by (+-)-N6-endonorbornan-2-yl-9-methyladenine (N-0861) in guinea pig isolated perfused hearts. Stimulus to His bundle interval, coronary perfusion pressure and left ventricular pressure were measured. In normoxic hearts, N-0861 competitively and reversibly antagonized stimulus to His bundle interval prolongation induced by adenosine (1-30 microM) but not that caused by carbachol (0.09 microM), verapamil (1 microM), MgCl2 (6.5 mM) or hypothermia. N-0861 (up to 100 microM) did not attenuate the decrease in coronary perfusion pressure caused by adenosine. N-0861 significantly attenuated the antagonism by adenosine of an isoproterenol-mediated elevation of left ventricular pressure. N-0861 significantly reduced stimulus to His bundle prolongation induced by either hypoxia or reduced perfusion ("ischemia") but did not attenuate the hypoxia-induced decrease in coronary perfusion pressure. Receptor binding studies indicated that N-0861 competitively displaced the binding of 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-[3H]dipropylxanthine to crude guinea pig and human atrial membranes (Ki values of 0.62 and 0.7 microM, respectively) but did not displace the binding of S-(p-nitro[3H]benzyl)-6-thioinosine. The results indicate that in the heart N-0861 is a reversible, specific and selective antagonist of adenosine at the A1 receptor subtype.

Adenine↗
PubMed1992

[Comparison of the several methods of investigation in the diagnosis of alkaline esophagitis. Considerations on 92 cases].

Up to now many controversies exist regarding the value of different diagnostic techniques available in alkaline esophagitis. The Authors studied 92 patients with histologic diagnosis of esophagitis obtained by endoscopic biopsy, by radiological study of upper gastrointestinal tract, esophageal manometry, combined 24 hour esophago-gastric pH-metry and cholangio-scintigraphy, too. These last two techniques have the highest specificity and accuracy rates. These techniques should be considered complementary and their combined employment has to be considered essential to reach the highest rate of accuracy in the diagnosis of alkaline esophagitis.

Bile Reflux↗
PubMed1991

[Esophageal manometry and pH-monitoring for surgical indications].

The Authors report a review of the data gathered by manometry and pH-metry in the functional esophageal diseases. Manometric and pH-metric patterns of gastro-esophageal reflux, Barrett esophagus, diverticula, achalasia, aspecific motility disorders and non-cardiac chest pain, are analyzed. Data conditioning the choice of surgical treatment in the literature and in the authors' experience are reported in detail.

Esophageal Diseases↗
PubMed1991

Electrophysiological and receptor binding studies to assess activation of the cardiac adenosine receptor by adenine nucleotides.

Adenosine and adenine nucleotides shorten the action potential duration of atrial myocytes and activate a specific acetylcholine and adenosine receptor-operated potassium outward current referred to as IKACh,Ado. The objective of this study was to determine whether adenine nucleotides shorten the action potential duration and increase IKACh,Ado in guinea pig atrial myocytes by directly activating adenosine receptors. The potency and efficacy of AMP and adenosine in increasing IKACh,Ado and shortening atrial action potential duration were similar; the EC50 values for AMP and adenosine were 3.4 +/- 0.8 and 3.1 +/- 0.4 microM, respectively. Likewise, the maximum increases in IKACh,Ado caused by AMP and adenosine were similar (122 +/- 11% versus 123 +/- 9%). In comparison, ATP and the stable analogue of AMP, adenosine monophosphorothioate (AMPS), were significantly less potent and efficacious than adenosine and AMP, and adenosine receptor antagonist 8-(p-sulfophenyl)theophylline and abolished in the presence of adenosine deaminase and alpha, beta-methylene-ADP (APCP, an inhibitor of AMP degradation). Binding of the A1-adenosine antagonist [3H]8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX) to guinea pig atrial membranes treated with adenosine deaminase and APCP was reduced up to 60% by 100 microM concentrations of AMP, AMPS, and adenosine. Inosine inhibited binding by 43 +/- 3% at 100 microM, whereas hypoxanthine and xanthine had little (5-10% inhibition) and uric acid had no effect. Only 3% of AMP and 35% of AMPS were recovered intact after a 90-minute incubation at 21 degrees C with preparations of guinea pig atrial membranes. Percent displacement of [3H]DPCPX binding to atrial membranes by 100 microM AMP was significantly less in the presence of nucleoside phosphorylase and xanthine oxidase (to degrade inosine, hypoxanthine, and xanthine to uric acid) than in their absence (12.4 +/- 3.1% versus 49.7 +/- 1.5%). The results suggest that the observed electrophysiological actions of adenine nucleotides in cardiomyocytes are mediated by adenosine and are consistent with activation of A1-adenosine receptors.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1990

Effects of dipyridamole and aminophylline on hemodynamics, regional myocardial blood flow and thallium-201 washout in the setting of a critical coronary stenosis.

Experiments were performed to characterize the interaction of intravenous dipyridamole and aminophylline on thallium-201 transport kinetics, regional myocardial blood flow and systemic hemodynamics in the presence of a critical coronary artery stenosis. In 12 dogs with a critical left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis, arterial pressure decreased from a mean value (+/- SEM) of 107 +/- 6 to 94 +/- 3 mm Hg (p less than 0.05) and distal left anterior descending artery pressure decreased from 70 +/- 7 to 55 +/- 4 mm Hg (p less than 0.05) after intravenous administration of dipyridamole (0.25 mg/kg body weight). In the left anterior descending perfusion zone, the endocardial/epicardial flow ratio decreased from 0.70 to 0.36 and the intrinsic thallium washout rate was significantly prolonged. Intravenous aminophylline (5 mg/kg) reversed the dipyridamole-induced systemic hypotension and transmural coronary steal and restored the thallium washout rate to baseline values. In six other dogs, aminophylline alone resulted in no alterations in systemic and coronary hemodynamics or regional myocardial blood flow. As expected, dipyridamole-induced vasodilation and coronary steal were prevented by aminophylline pretreatment. These data show that in a canine model of partial coronary stenosis, systemic hypotension, adverse regional flow effects (coronary steal) and prolonged thallium-201 washout consequent to intravenously administered dipyridamole are promptly reversed by intravenous aminophylline administration. Aminophylline alone had no significant hemodynamic and coronary flow effects. This study provides further insight into the altered thallium kinetics occurring as a consequence of dipyridamole-induced vasodilation and suggests that the prompt reversal of symptoms and signs of ischemia with aminophylline in patients receiving intravenous dipyridamole for clinical imaging studies probably reflects the reversal of transmural coronary steal.

Aminophylline↗
PubMed1990

Adenosine-induced changes in atrial action potential: contribution of Ca and K currents.

In this study, we examined the relative contribution of the increase in acetylcholine-regulated potassium current (IK ACh) and decrease in calcium current (ICa) to the adenosine (Ado)-induced shortening of action potential duration (APD). In isolated guinea pig atrial myocytes, membrane potentials and currents were measured by the whole cell patch-clamp technique. ICa and IK ACh were individualized by blocking the K currents with Cs+ and ICa with Cd2+. The effects of Ado on membrane potential and currents were concentration dependent. Ado (10 microM) shortened APD at 0 mV and at 90% of repolarization (APD0,90) to 7 +/- 1 and 26 +/- 6 ms from control values of 23 +/- 3 and 89 +/- 6 ms, respectively. Concomitant with the changes in APD, Ado decreased ICa from -9.2 +/- 1.3 to -6.8 +/- 10 microA/microF (26% decrease) but increased IK ACh from +3.5 +/- 0.5 to +7.8 +/- 0.8 microA/microF (123% increase). When rundown of ICa was taken into account, the maximum decrease in ICa caused by Ado was 12%. The effect of Ado on ICa and IK ACh was not altered by treatment of the cells with either Cs+ or Cd2+. The shortening of ADP0,90 strongly correlated with the increase in IK ACh but minimally with the decrease in ICa. A 22% reduction in ICa caused by lowering extracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]o) from 3.6 to 1.8 mM was associated with an 11 and 14% shortening of APD0 and APD90, respectively. In the same myocytes an 18% decrease in ICa by 10 microM Ado reduced APD0 and APD90 by 58 and 61%, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1990

A new method of sampling blood for measurement of plasma adenosine.

The half-life of adenosine in human blood is 1-2 s at 37 degrees C. To measure plasma adenosine concentration accurately, it is necessary to inhibit adenosine metabolism during transit of blood through the sampling catheter. We have tested a double-lumen catheter and a solution of compounds that inhibit adenosine metabolism (stop solution) for this purpose. Stop solution and radiolabeled adenosine were delivered via an inner lumen, mixed with blood at the catheter tip, and withdrawn to a collection syringe in an outer lumen. Extracellular recovery of label was 89 +/- 5% and proportional to the quantity of label added to blood. In contrast, when blood and radiolabel were mixed with stop solution in the collecting syringe only after passage through the catheter, recovery of radiolabel was 7 +/- 3%. The importance of inhibiting pathways of adenosine formation and degradation or uptake during transit of blood through the catheter was demonstrated. The results suggest that a double-lumen catheter and stop solution are both necessary and suitable for collection of human blood to determine the concentration of plasma adenosine.

Adenine↗
PubMed1990

Interstitial adenosine in guinea pig hearts: an index obtained by epicardial disks.

Epicardial porous disks were used to estimate left ventricular interstitial fluid adenosine in the isolated guinea pig heart perfused at constant flow. To validate this technique, adenosine was infused with 0.5 microM dipyridamole and 5 microM erythro-4-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine hydrochloride (EHNA) to inhibit adenosine uptake and deamination, respectively. Under these conditions, with 6 or 12 microM adenosine in the arterial infusate, the venous and steady-state left ventricular disk adenosine values equaled those of the perfusion fluid, reflecting the expected equilibration between vascular and left ventricular interstitial fluid (disk) compartments. The concentration of endogenous adenosine in the interstitial fluid as estimated by the epicardial disks under control conditions was 0.28 +/- 0.03 microM with a concomitant coronary sinus concentration of 0.004 +/- 0.001 microM. We conclude that a marked adenosine gradient exists between the interstitial fluid and the vascular space and that disk adenosine measurements provide a useful index of left ventricular interstitial fluid adenosine.

Adenosine↗
PubMed1990

Species-dependent effects of adenosine on heart rate and atrioventricular nodal conduction. Mechanism and physiological implications.

This study 1) compares the negative chronotropic and dromotropic actions of adenosine in guinea pig, rat, and rabbit hearts; 2) investigates the mechanism(s) for the different responses; and 3) determines the physiological implications. Isolated perfused hearts were instrumented for measurement of atrial rate and atrioventricular (AV) nodal conduction time. Differences in metabolism of adenosine were determined in the absence and presence of dipyridamole (nucleoside uptake blocker) and erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine (EHNA, adenosine deaminase inhibitor). Dipyridamole plus EHNA decreased adenosine's EC50 for the negative dromotropic effect by 14-fold in guinea pig heart and 1.6-fold in rat heart. This is consistent with the greater number of [3H]nitrobenzylthioinosine binding sites measured in membranes from guinea pig (1,231 +/- 68 fmol/mg protein) compared with rat (302 +/- 31 fmol/mg protein) and rabbit (260 +/- 28 fmol/mg protein) atria. The potency of adenosine to slow atrial rate and prolong AV nodal conduction time was greater in guinea pig than in rat or rabbit hearts. This rank order of potency correlated well with the number of binding sites for the specific adenosine receptor radioligand 125I-aminobenzyladenosine in guinea pig (102 +/- 13 fmol/mg protein), rat (11 +/- 0.5 fmol/mg protein), and rabbit (8 +/- 1 fmol/mg protein) atrial membranes. Hypoxia increased the rate of adenosine release by severalfold and caused slowing of heart rate and AV block. In spontaneously beating hearts, the main effect of hypoxia was a slowing of ventricular rate, which in the guinea pig heart was due to AV block and in the rat heart to atrial slowing. In atrial paced hearts, hypoxia caused a marked prolongation of AV nodal conduction time in guinea pig (39 +/- 4 msec) and rabbit (29 +/- 5 msec) hearts, but only small effect in rat hearts (10 +/- 2 msec). The differences in response to hypoxia could be accounted for by the species-dependent differences in the 1) amount of adenosine released and metabolized, 2) sensitivity of the hearts to adenosine, and 3) dependency of AV nodal conduction on atrial rate. The findings indicate that the results from physiological or pharmacological studies on adenosine in one species may not be applicable to others, and the ultimate effect of adenosine and hypoxia is to slow ventricular rate.

Adenine↗
PubMed1989

Downregulation and desensitization of A1-adenosine receptors in embryonic chicken heart.

Downregulation of cardiac A1-adenosine receptors and desensitization of the negative inotropic response to adenosine were examined 44 h after pretreatment of 15-day-old chick embryos with phenylisopropyladenosine (R-PIA) or vehicle. The number of A1-adenosine receptors, assessed by 125I-aminobenzyladenosine (125I-ABA) binding to crude cardiac membranes, was decreased by 63% (P less than 0.001) after pretreatment of embryos with 1 mumol of R-PIA, from 16.7 +/- 2.4 to 6.2 +/- 1.4 (SD) fmol/mg protein (n = 6). The KD of 125I-ABA binding to the remaining receptors did not differ significantly from control (0.71 +/- 0.45 vs. 0.79 +/- 0.57 nM). A maximally effective concentration of R-PIA (10(-5) M) decreased the developed tension of electrically paced right ventricular (RV) muscle strips from control embryos by 76 +/- 6% (mean +/- SD, n = 7) from its forskolin-stimulated plateau level, whereas the developed tension of strips from R-PIA-pretreated embryos was decreased significantly less, by 38 +/- 4% (P less than 0.001). The potency of R-PIA and the efficacy and potency of carbachol to decrease contractile tension were not changed. The data suggest that chronic exposure of the heart to R-PIA can produce downregulation of A1-adenosine receptors and homologous desensitization of the negative inotropic response to adenosine.

Adenosine↗
PubMed1989

An unusual receptor mediates adenosine-induced SA nodal bradycardia in dogs.

To characterize the receptor mediating the negative chronotropic effect of adenosine in dogs, experiments were performed on conscious dogs with chronically implanted cardiovascular instrumentation. Autonomic blockade was used to eliminate any reflex influences on heart rate. Intravenous bolus injections of various adenosine analogues caused dose-dependent, aminophylline-blockable reductions in heart rate with a potency order of 5'-(N-ethylcarboxyamido)-adenosine (NECA)-78:2-chloroadenosine-17:adenosine-1. Dipyridamole enhanced the potency of adenosine to equal that of 2-chloroadenosine. Moderately selective A1-receptor agonists N6-(L-2-phenylisopropyl)-adenosine (R-PIA) and N6-cyclohexyladenosine and an A2-selective agonist 2-phenylaminoadenosine (200 nmol/kg) had no negative chronotropic effect in the conscious dog. Adenosine and its analogues, including R-PIA, caused coronary vasodilatation at smaller doses than were required to slow the heart rate. The selective A1-adenosine receptor blocker xanthine amine congener (XAC) antagonized the negative chronotropic action of adenosine but did so nonselectively, as the coronary vasodilative and negative chronotropic actions of adenosine were antagonized equally well. The spontaneous contraction rate of isolated perfused dog right atrial preparations, which included the sinoatrial node, was reduced by intrasinoatrial node artery infusions of adenosine analogues with a potency ratio of NECA-100:adenosine-15:N6-cyclopentyladenosine-2.3:R-PIA-1. We conclude that the adenosine receptor mediating the negative chronotropic action of adenosine in the dog does not display the pharmacological characteristics of either typical A1- or A2-adenosine receptors. Instead, either a novel adenosine receptor or an A1-receptor with unusual agonist and antagonist binding properties appears to exist in the dog's sinoatrial node.

2-Chloroadenosine↗
PubMed1989

Role of endogenous adenosine in postdefibrillation bradyarrhythmia and hemodynamic depression.

In halothane-nitrous oxide-anesthetized pigs, the effect of the competitive adenosine antagonist, BW-A1433U (a derivative of 1,3-dipropyl-8-phenylxanthine), on postdefibrillation bradyarrhythmia and hemodynamic depression was investigated. In protocol 1, repetitive episodes of ventricular fibrillation lasting 15 seconds before transthoracic DC shock were performed in five animals, before (control) and after the administration of BW-A1433U (5 mg/kg i.v.). An unsuccessful initial shock was immediately followed by a rescue shock of 40 A. In ventricular fibrillation episodes requiring rescue shocks, nine of 19 episodes (47%) exhibited second- or third-degree atrioventricular block at 15 seconds postdefibrillation compared with only one of 16 BW-A1433U episodes (6%). In protocol 2, the effect of BW-A1433U was determined in the presence of dipyridamole, a nucleoside uptake blocker known to potentiate the cardiac actions of adenosine. To counter the hypotensive effect of dipyridamole, methoxamine was continuously infused at 0.015 mg/kg/min i.v. Sequential episodes of ventricular fibrillation lasting 45 seconds were terminated by shocks of 40 A in the presence of methoxamine alone, after dipyridamole (1.5-7.5 mg i.v.), and after BW-A1433U (5 mg/kg i.v.). Over the first 15 seconds postdefibrillation, BW-A1433U significantly (p less than 0.05) increased the number of spontaneous beats (31 +/- 2) and systolic/diastolic blood pressure (111 +/- 4/67 +/- 5 mm Hg; mean +/- SEM; n = 9) compared with both methoxamine (16 +/- 2 beats; 98 +/- 14/52 +/- 12 mm Hg; n = 5) and dipyridamole (8 +/- 3 beats; 58 +/- 11/27 +/- 6 mm Hg; n = 9), respectively. Rapid infusion of BW-A1433U during dipyridamole postdefibrillation periods raised heart rate and blood pressure to preventricular fibrillation levels within 30 seconds. Thus, BW-A1433U can reverse and prevent postdefibrillation bradyarrhythmia and hemodynamic depression. Endogenous adenosine may be an important mediator of postdefibrillation cardiovascular collapse.

Adenosine↗
PubMed1989

Electrophysiologic effects of dipyridamole on atrioventricular nodal conduction and supraventricular tachycardia. Role of endogenous adenosine.

Exogenous adenosine has been shown to have potent electrophysiologic effects and antiarrhythmic properties within the atrioventricular (AV) node. Endogenous adenosine, a nucleoside with an increased release signaled by ischemia and hypoxia, is not believed to exert significant effects during homeostatic conditions. Recent experimental evidence suggests, however, that under normoxic conditions, the amount of adenosine released may be sufficient to mediate some of its physiologic effects. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that in humans the electrophysiologic effects of endogenously released adenosine on AV nodal conduction can be demonstrated under normoxic conditions by inhibiting uptake and degradation of the nucleoside. In the first protocol, the effects of intravenous dipyridamole (0.56 mg/kg bolus i.v., 5 micrograms/kg/minute infusion), a nucleoside-transport blocker that elevates endogenous plasma levels of adenosine, on AV nodal conduction were evaluated in seven patients. At a constant atrial paced cycle length, dipyridamole increased the AH interval from 110 +/- 19 to 164 +/- 26 msec, p = 0.002 (+/- SEM). Aminophylline (5.6 mg/kg i.v.), a competitive antagonist of adenosine, completely reversed the effects of dipyridamole on AV nodal conduction. Similarly, dipyridamole increased the cycle length at which pacing-induced AV nodal Wenckebach occurred, from 348 +/- 31 (control) to 388 +/- 33 msec (dipyridamole) (p = 0.002). In a second protocol, the effects of intravenous dipyridamole were evaluated in another group of six patients who had supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) in which the AV node was part of the reentrant circuit.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine↗
PubMed1989

Enhanced sensitivity of heart cells to adenosine and up-regulation of receptor number after treatment of guinea pigs with theophylline.

Experiments were carried out in hearts from guinea pigs that were fed either the adenosine receptor antagonist theophylline (0.6 mg/ml) or no drug. The A1 adenosine receptor radioligand [125I]aminobenzyladenosine bound to a single affinity class of receptors in heart cell membranes from control animals with Bmax and KD of 18.3 +/- 1.0 fmol/mg protein and 3.7 +/- 0.6 nM, respectively (n = 8). Heart cell membranes from animals fed theophylline for 2, 7, and 14 days bound the radioligand with about the same affinity, but the number of binding sites was significantly increased (p less than 0.01) to 30.6 +/- 1.7 (n = 3), 30.0 +/- 0.8 (n = 3), and 27.3 +/- 2.9 (n = 4), respectively. Nearly identical results were obtained with membranes prepared from enzymatically dispersed ventricular myocytes. Fourteen days of theophylline treatment also produced a small increase (12%, p less than 0.01) in the number of binding sites in membranes derived from cerebral cortexes. Isolated ventricular myocytes prepared from animals fed no drug or theophylline for 7 days were used to determine the effect of adenosine on 20 nM isoproterenol-stimulated calcium current (ICa) measured by the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Adenosine reduced isoproterenol-stimulated ICa without affecting the activation or inactivation kinetics of the current; ICa density was reduced less by 5 microM adenosine in cells from control (25 +/- 3 to 21 +/- 3 microA/microF) than in cells from theophylline-fed animals (26 +/- 5 to 17 +/- 2 microA/microF). Although a high concentration (0.5 mM) of adenosine abolished isoproterenol-stimulated ICa in cells from control or theophylline-fed animals, the IC50 for adenosine was sixfold less in cells derived from theophylline-fed animals than in cells from control animals (4.6 +/- 0.6 microM and 28.3 +/- 1.4 microM, respectively, p less than 0.01). In contrast, the increase in ICa in response to isoproterenol alone and the potency of acetylcholine to antagonize this effect of isoproterenol were the same in both groups of cells. A maximally effective concentration of R-phenylisopropyladenosine (0.1 mM) inhibited isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation less in cardiomyocytes from control than from theophylline-fed animals (28.7 +/- 1.8% vs. 42.0 +/- 4.2%, p less than 0.05). In summary, exposure of the myocardium to theophylline increases the number of adenosine receptors and the effects of receptor occupancy by agonists. These findings imply that the endogenous concentration of adenosine is high enough in the normoxic guinea pig heart to chronically maintain adenosine receptors in a partially down-regulated state.

Acetylcholine↗