title: Tracheal relaxant and cardiostimulant actions of xanthines can be differentiated from diuretic and CNS-stimulant effects. Role of adenosine antagonism?
abstract: Theophylline (1, 3-dimethylxanthine) and enprofylline (3-propylxanthine) have been examined for effects in the rat. Enprofylline was 3.8 times as potent as theophylline as a tracheal relaxant in vitro, and 1.3 times as potent as theophylline to increase the rate of isolated perfused hearts. An oral dose (5 mg/kg) of enprofylline to rats was almost completely recovered in the urine as unchanged drug, showing that this xanthine is well absorbed and negligibly metabolised. Theophylline (10 and 30 mg/kg p.o.) significantly and dose-dependently increased locomotor activity in rats whereas the same doses of enprofylline were without effect on behaviour. Theophylline ( 5-20 mg/kg p.o.) produced significant and dose-dependent natriuretic and volume diuretic effect with little augmentation of potassium excretion. Enprofylline up to 10 mg/kg was without diuretic effects. At the large dose of 20 mg/kg enprofylline decreased sodium excretion and produced some volume diuresis. It is suggested that lack of diuretic and CNS-stimulant behavioural effects by enprofylline is due to its low ability to antagonise adenosine receptor stimulation. Pharmacodynamic differences between enprofylline and the potent adenosine antagonist theophylline may indicate a functional importance of endogenous adenosine.
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000818:Animals; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D004232:Diuretics; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013806:Theophylline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects*; D014970:Xanthines / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D004232:Diuretics; D014970:Xanthines; D013806:Theophylline; C034347:enprofylline; D000241:Adenosine