The Open Circulation & Vascular Journal

2011, 4 : 6-11
Published online 2011 March 03. DOI: 10.2174/1877382601104010006
Publisher ID: TOCVJ-4-6

Evidence for a Role of Cyclic AMP and Endothelium in Rat Aortic Relaxation Induced by R-PIA

Gonzalo Allende and Salvador Acevedo
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Basic Sciences Center, Autonomous University of Aguascalientes, Av Universidad 940, Aguascalientes, Ags, 20131 Mexico.

ABSTRACT

It is known that vasodilator effects of adenosine are mediated by A2 receptors in various animal species. Nevertheless, in several blood vessels there is evidence for vasodilator responses to some adenosine analogues, which are resistant to the antagonists of the different adenosine receptor subtypes, suggesting that they are not mediated by any of the known adenosine receptors. There are contradictory reports about the effects produced by adenosine and its analogues on aortic vasodilation. The results obtained in the present study dealing with rat aortic rings and the relaxant effects induced by the selective adenosine A1 receptor agonist N6-R-phenylisopropyladenosine (R-PIA) provide evidence that cyclic AMP and the presence of endothelium are possibly involved in rat aortic relaxation induced by this adenosine analogue.

Keywords:

Aortic relaxation, adenosine, receptors, vasodilation, cyclic AMP, endothelium.