| Abstract: | 1. Adenosine receptor agonists were evaluated for their activity at the putative adenosine A3 receptor which mediates a 'xanthine-resistant' hypotensive response in the anaesthetized rat. The compounds tested were: the A1/A3 receptor agonist, N-2-(4-aminophenyl)ethyl]adenosine (APNEA), the non-selective adenosine receptor agonist, 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA), the adenosine A1 receptor-selective agonists, N-(1S,trans)-2-hydroxycyclopentyl]adenosine (GR79236) and N6-cyclopentyl adenosine (CPA), the A2a receptor-selective agonists, 2-2-4-(2-carboxyethyl) phenyl] ethyl] amino]-N- ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (CGS21680) and 2-phenylaminoadenosine (CV1808), and the moderately A2b selective agonist, N-(2-methylphenyl)methyl]adenosine (metrifudil). 2. In confirmation of literature findings, APNEA (1-1000 nmol kg-1) induced hypotension and bradycardia; the hypotension was not blocked by pretreatment with the xanthine antagonist, 8-P-sulphophenyltheophylline (8-sPT; 40 mg kg-1, i.v.), whereas the bradycardia was attenuated. The non-xanthine antagonist, 9-fluoro-2-(2-furyl)-5,6-dihydro 1,2,4]triazolo1,5-c]- quinazin-5-imine (CGS15943A; 3 mg kg-1 i.v.), also attenuated the bradycardia without affecting the hypotension. 3. The adenosine A1 receptor-selective agonists, GR79236 and CPA, both produced dose-dependent falls in blood pressure and heart rate which were antagonized by 8-sPT (40 mg kg-1) and CGS15943A (3 mg kg-1). 4. The adenosine A2a receptor-selective agonists, CGS21680 and CV1808, produced only a hypotensive response which was antagonized by 8-sPT (40 mg kg-1) and to a much greater extent by CGS15943A (3 mg kg-1), consistent with the response being mediated solely by A2a receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) |
