Pharmacological studies with adenine, adenosine and some phosphorylated derivatives on guinea-pig tracheal muscle.

Adenine, adenosine and three adenine nucleotides all caused relaxation of the guinea-pig trachea. The relaxation to the nucleotides was often preceded by a contraction. The response to adenosine and the nucleotides, but not adenine, was potentiated by dipyridamole. Imidazole inhibited the response to adenine alone. Propranolol has no effect on the response to any of the compounds. It is concluded that the guinea-pig trachea does not possess and a nucleotide-specific receptor as has been postulated for some other smooth muscle preparations. An alternative hypothesis postulating an adenosine-specific receptor is presented.