Adenosine receptors in myelin fractions and subfractions: the effect of the agonist (R)-phenylisopropyladenosine on myelin membrane microviscosity.

In this article the existence of A1 adenosine receptors and the absence of A2 adenosine receptors in myelin membranes purified from pig brain white matter are demonstrated. The characterization of (R)-[3H]phenylisopropyladenosine ([3H]R-PIA) binding to purified myelin fractions was performed. The distribution of high- and low-affinity species of the A1 adenosine receptor was different in heavy, medium, and light myelin. The fluidity of myelin subfractions and of pig brain cortical membranes was estimated; the microviscosity of heavy myelin (5.4 poises) and of cortical membranes (5.1 poises) was similar and less than that of medium (7.8 poises) and light (8.2 poises) myelin. It was also demonstrated that the agonist R-PIA modifies the microviscosity of myelin membranes and that the degree of modification depends on the fluidity of the membrane assayed. These results suggest that adenosine receptors may have an important role in the functionality of myelin membranes.