title: Adenosine: a natural modulator of L-type calcium channels in atrial myocardium?
abstract: The mechanism of action of adenosine at the level of atrial myocardium has been a matter of debate. Electrophysiological studies showed that adenosine increases K+ efflux which may reduce Ca2+ influx, indirectly, by shortening the myocardial action potential. Recently some authors proposed that adenosine also depresses Ca2+ influx by a direct action on the L calcium channel, but, this effect being lower than that on voltage-dependent K+ channels, it was considered of minor importance. The effect of adenosine and its stable analogues was studied in the presence of the dihydropyridine Bay K 8644, a highly specific L-type calcium channel agonist, on isolated guinea-pig atria. The inotropic effect of the calcium channel activator was found to be antagonized by adenosine A1-receptor agonists. Binding studies showed that the effect on Bay K 8644 was not due to the interaction between adenosine analogues and dihydropyridines at the level of a common receptor site on L-type Ca2+ channels. Inhibitors of K+ channels did not antagonize the effect of adenosine analogues against Bay K 8644. Experimental conditions aimed to unmask an effect on slow Ca2+ currents (i.e. K+ depolarized paced atria), further supported that adenosine analogues may act in atria as negative modulators on L-type Ca2+ channels. Finally, the use of 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX), a highly specific A1-receptor antagonist, demonstrated that the antagonism of Bay K 8644 by adenosine analogues is strictly dependent on A1 receptors. The above data support the possibility of a dual signal transduction pathway to ion channels (K+ and Ca2+) linked to A1 receptors in atrial myocardium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fassina
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Biasi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ragazzi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caparrotta
mesh_terms: D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D000241:Adenosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000187:drug effects*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D015221:Potassium Channels; D001498:3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester; D000241:Adenosine