Characterization of a stimulatory adenosine a2a receptor in adult rat ventricular myocyte. Xu, Hao, Birgitt Stein, and Bruce Liang. Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA and Department of Pharmacology, Universitats-Krankenhaus Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
APStracts 2:0461H, 1995.
The expression and function of stimulatory adenosine A2 receptor on the cardiac myocyte is not well-defined. The objective of the present study is to characterize the adenosine A2a receptor in adult rat cardiac ventricular myocytes. After selection of an optimal lot of collagenase for myocyte isolation and for consistent measurement of adenosine-mediated responses, adenosine A1 receptor pathway was inactivated by pertussis toxin and by A1-selective antagonist DPCPX. Effects of adenosine agonist and antagonist on cardiac myocyte contractile amplitude and on cAMP levels were determined. The A2a receptor-selective agonist 2-[4-(2-carboxyethyl)phenylethylamino]-5' -N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (CGS21680) caused a pronounced stimulation of myocyte contractile amplitude and an increase in the cAMP level, as did the nonselective agonists N-ethyladenosine-5' -uronic acid and adenosine. The A2a receptor-selective antagonist 8 -(3-chlorostyryl)caffeine blocked the NECA- and adenosine-induced positive inotropic response. Probing of myocyte RNA with a rat A2a receptor cDNA demonstrated a 2.6 kb mRNA, corresponding to that encoding the A2a receptor. Together, data from contractile, cAMP and RNA studies indicate that adenosine A2a receptors are expressed and are functionally coupled to stimulaton of cAMP accumulation and cardiac contractility in adult rat ventricular myocyte.

Received 5 July 1995; accepted in final form 26 September 1995.
APS Manuscript Number H611-5.
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