title: Age-related changes in adenosine-mediated relaxation of coronary and aortic smooth muscle.
abstract: We tested whether adenosine mediates nitric oxide (NO)-dependent and NO-independent dilation in coronary and aortic smooth muscle and whether age selectively impairs NO-dependent adenosine relaxation. Responses to adenosine and the relatively nonselective analog 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) were studied in coronary vessels and aortas from immature (1-2 mo), mature (3-4 mo), and moderately aged (12-18 mo) Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats. Adenosine and NECA induced biphasic concentration-dependent coronary vasodilation, with data supporting high-sensitivity (pEC(50) = 5.2-5.8) and low-sensitivity (pEC(50) = 2.3-2.4) adenosine sites. Although sensitivity to adenosine and NECA was unaltered by age, response magnitude declined significantly. Treatment with 50 microM N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) markedly inhibited the high-sensitivity site, although response magnitude still declined with age. Aortic sensitivity to adenosine declined with age (pEC(50) = 4.7 +/- 0.2, 3.5 +/- 0.2, and 2.9 +/- 0.1 in immature, mature, and moderately aged aortas, respectively), and the adenosine receptor transduction maximum also decreased (16.1 +/- 0.8, 12.9 +/- 0.7, and 9.6 +/- 0.7 mN/mm(2) in immature, mature, and moderately aged aortas, respectively). L-NAME decreased aortic sensitivity to adenosine in immature and mature tissues but was ineffective in the moderately aged aorta. Data collectively indicate that 1) adenosine mediates NO-dependent and NO-independent coronary and aortic relaxation, 2) maturation and aging reduce NO-independent and NO-dependent adenosine responses, and 3) the age-related decline in aortic response also involves a reduction in the adenosine receptor transduction maximum.
authors: National Heart Foundation Research Centre, School of Health Science, Griffith University Gold Coast Campus, Southport, Queensland 4217, Australia.
authors: A K
authors: AK
authors: Hinschen
authors: R B
authors: RB
authors: Rose'Meyer
authors: J P
authors: JP
authors: Headrick
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000241:Adenosine / Q000494:pharmacology; D019830:Adenosine-5'-(N-ethylcarboxamide) / Q000494:pharmacology; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000502:physiology*; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018047:Receptors, Purinergic P1 / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018047:Receptors, Purinergic P1; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009599:Nitroprusside; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019830:Adenosine-5'-(N-ethylcarboxamide); D011189:Potassium Chloride; D000241:Adenosine; D000109:Acetylcholine; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester