title: Changes in extracellular pH and myocardial ischaemia alter the cardiac effects of diadenosine tetraphosphate and pentaphosphate.
abstract: 1. The structural conformation of diadenosine tetraphosphate (Ap(4)A) and pentaphosphate (Ap(5)A) has been reported to alter as pH is reduced. As such, it is possible that the cardiac effects of Ap(4)A and Ap(5)A vary during acidosis and myocardial ischaemia due to changes in ligand structure, receptor proteins or intracellular signalling. 2. We investigated whether the cardiac electrophysiological and coronary vasomotor effects of Ap(4)A and Ap(5)A are preserved under conditions of extracellular acidosis (pH 6.5) and alkalosis (pH 8.5) and whether Ap(4)A has any electrophysiological or antiarrhythmic effects during ischaemia. 3. Transmembrane right ventricular action potentials, refractory periods and coronary perfusion pressure were recorded from isolated, Langendorff-perfused guinea-pig hearts under constant flow conditions. The effects of 1 nM and 1 microM Ap(4)A and Ap(5)A were studied at pH 7.4, 6.5 and 8.5. The effects of 1 microM Ap(4)A were studied during global low-flow ischaemia and reperfusion. 4. At pH 7.4, Ap(4)A and Ap(5)A increased action potential duration (APD(95)) and refractory period (RP) and reduced coronary perfusion pressure. The electrophysiological effects were absent at pH 6.5 while the reductions in perfusion pressure were attenuated. At pH 8.5, Ap(4)A increased RP but the effects of Ap(4)A and Ap(5)A on perfusion pressure were attenuated. During ischaemia, Ap(4)A had no antiarrhythmic or electrophysiological effects. 5. These data demonstrate the importance of extracellular pH in influencing the effects of Ap(4)A and Ap(5)A on the heart and indicate that any potentially cardioprotective effects of these compounds during normal perfusion at physiological pH are absent during ischaemia.
authors.affiliation: Academic Cardiology Unit, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College School of Medicine, London.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Stavrou
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Flores
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D015226:Dinucleoside Phosphates / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015425:Myocardial Reperfusion / Q000379:methods; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D015226:Dinucleoside Phosphates; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; C012275:P(1),P(5)-di(adenosine-5'-)pentaphosphate; C020733:diadenosine tetraphosphate