The soluble forms of 5'-nucleotidase in rat and human heart. Skladanowski, A. C., R. T. Smolenski1, M. Tavenier, J. W. De Jong, M. H. Yacoub & A. M. L. Seymour. Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland Cardiochemical Laboratory, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, National Heart and Lung Institute, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgical Unit, Harefield Hospital, Harefield, United Kingdom
APStracts 2:0449H, 1995.
Intracellular AMP hydrolysis probably produces sufficient adenosine in ischemic heart to exert physiological activity. Because data on adenosine-producing systems in human heart are scarce, we measured: (i) Formation of adenosine (catabolites) in ischemic human heart slices, (ii) Cytoplasmic 5'-nucleotidase activity in human left ventricle. We also measured the latter in rat ventricle and cardiomyocytes. During the first 5 min of incubation, adenosine production in slices (n = 5) equaled 26 +/- 10 nmol/min per g wet wt. (mean +/- SD), and total AMP content was 0.81 +/- 0.46 mM. Cytoplasmic IMP-preferring 5'-nucleotidase activity in homogenates of human heart (N-II, 167 +/- 78 mU/g, n = 23) was significantly higher than that of the AMP-preferring one (N-I, 107 +/- 61 mU/g, n = 24). Both isozymes were 2-3x more active in rat than in human heart. Rat cardiomyocytes contained comparable amounts of the two 5' -nucleotidases. Kinetics of N-I isolated from explanted human heart displayed features similar to the enzyme from animal heart, with a KM of 1.5 mM under maximally stimulated conditions. This form can provide the amount of adenosine found in ischemic slices. Conclusion: Human heart shows lower cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase activities than rat heart. Nevertheless, cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase activity in human heart can easily account for adenosine formation during ischemia.

Received 14 February 1995; accepted in final form 22 September
1995.
APS Manuscript Number H133-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Heart Circ. Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 6 November 95