title: Increase in plasma levels of adenosine and adenine nucleotides after intravenous infusion of buflomedil in humans.
abstract: To clarify the mode of action of the vasoactive agent buflomedil, we evaluated plasma levels of adenosine and adenine nucleotides after intravenous (i.v.) infusion in humans of 50, 100, and 200 mg of the drug in 20 min. Buflomedil induced an increase of the same order of magnitude in plasma levels of adenosine and adenine nucleotides. Maximal adenosine increase (84%) was observed at the end of the infusion period, whereas peak plasma levels of ATP and ADP (69 and 55%, respectively) and of AMP (61%) were detected 10 and 5 min after discontinuation of infusion, respectively. Although the exact mode of action of buflomedil at the molecular level remains unclear, some indirect findings suggest that the increase in adenosine may be due to enhanced release rather than to inhibition of cell uptake. Because such activity of buflomedil consists of enhancement of physiologic mechanisms of vasodilation and tissue protection occurring in the course of ischemic events, new pharmacologic perspectives for the drug may arise.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Siena School of Medicine, Italy.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Capecchi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Laghi Pasini
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sodi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiavetta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sensi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Lalla
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Volpi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Di Perri
mesh_terms: D000227:Adenine Nucleotides / Q000097:blood*; D000241:Adenosine / Q000097:blood*; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000097:blood; D000249:Adenosine Monophosphate / Q000097:blood; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000097:blood; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000227:Adenine Nucleotides; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000249:Adenosine Monophosphate; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D000241:Adenosine; C010651:buflomedil