The effects of adenine nucleotides on cutaneous afferent nerve activity.
1 The activity produced by the adenine nucleotides adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and by potassium, acetylcholine (ACh), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and bradykinin when applied to an exposed blister base on the ear of anaesthetized rabbits or intra-arterially to anaesthetized cats was investigated in multiple strands dissected from the auricular-temporal and saphenous nerves of rabbits and cats, respectively. 2 In the rabbit preparation potassium and the adenine nucleotides produced activity in the nerve fibres. The effects of these substances were produced in comparable dose ranges; threshold effects being produced by potassium at a concentration of 13 mM and by ADP at a concentration of 4 mM. ACh, 5-HT and bradykinin were inactive at similar or higher concentrations. 3 In the cat preparation all the substances tested produced activity in the nerve fibres. The adenine nucleotides were comparatively less potent than ACh, 5-HT or bradykinin, but had greater potency than potassium. 4 It was concluded that the adenine nucleotides do possess effects on afferent nerve terminals or fibres and thus resemble other known algogenic substances such as potassium, ACh, 5-HT and bradykinin.
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000227:Adenine Nucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000187:drug effects*; D011817:Rabbits; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation*
D000227:Adenine Nucleotides; D012701:Serotonin; D000109:Acetylcholine