Adenosine responses in experimental vein bypass grafts.
OBJECTIVE
Veins develop unique endothelial and smooth muscle cell physiologic phenotypes after implantation as vein grafts in the arterial circulation. Receptor-mediated relaxation is reduced or absent in these grafts. This study examines the responses of vein grafts to adenosine, a known potent endogenous vasodilator, and compares these responses with the native veins and arteries.


METHODS
The presence of adenosine receptors (A1 and A2) by radioligand binding and the in vitro responses to the adenosine analogue N-ethyl-carboxyamido-adenosine were assessed in precontracted common carotid jugular vein bypass grafts placed in New Zealand white rabbits for 28 days. Results were compared with those obtained in precontracted jugular veins and carotid arteries. Both endothelialized and de-endothelialized vessels were studied. The contribution of nitric oxide (NO) and prostanoid production to relaxation was also determined by preincubation with the specific inhibitors l-monomethylarginine and indomethacin, respectively. Finally, the in vitro relaxation in response to the respective A1 and A2 adenosine receptor agonists R-phenyl-isopropyl-adenosine and CGS-21680 was also examined.


RESULTS
The results show that the adenosine-induced responses of the vein grafts differ from those of the jugular vein and carotid artery. First, in contrast to the carotid artery, vein graft adenosine-mediated relaxation is NO and prostanoid dependent, similar to the response of the jugular vein. Second, A1 receptor activation in the vein graft produces an endothelium-dependent contractile response. Third, the A2 receptor-mediated responses in the vein grafts appear to be independent of the endothelium. Fourth, radioligand studies show the presence of both receptor subtypes (A1 and A2) on the vein grafts with a ratio (A1/A2 = 1.4) closer to that of the jugular vein (A1/A2 = 1.8) than to that seen in the carotid artery (A1/A2 = 0.5).


CONCLUSIONS
Vein graft adenosine responses appear to be unique in that they neither maintain a venous phenotype nor acquire an arterial phenotype. In particular, endothelial A1 receptor-mediated responses change from relaxation to contraction, and receptor activated NO-mediated relaxation is preserved within the vein grafts probably via A2 receptor signalling.
Davies
M G
MG
Vascular Biology and Atherosclerosis Research Laboratory, Departments of Surgery and Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
Ramkumar
V
V
Hagen
P O
PO
D000818:Animals; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000601:surgery; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D011817:Rabbits; D018047:Receptors, Purinergic P1 / Q000502:physiology*; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000502:physiology*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology*; D014680:Veins / Q000637:transplantation*
D018047:Receptors, Purinergic P1