Characterization of adenosine receptors in bone. Studies on the effect of adenosine analogues on cyclic AMP formation and bone resorption in cultured mouse calvaria.

The effect of different adenosine analogues on cyclic AMP (cAMP) formation and bone resorption in cultured mouse calvarial bones was investigated. 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA), R-N6-phenylisopropyl-adenosine (PIA), N6-cyclohexyl-adenosine (CHA) and 2-chloroadenosine all stimulated cyclic AMP formation with a threshold close to 1 mumol l-1); NECA was the most potent agonist. Theophylline (10, 100 mumol l-1) inhibited the cAMP accumulation induced by NECA and 2-chloroadenosine (30 and 300 mumol l-1), dose dependently. There was no inhibition of cAMP formation by PIA and CHA in forskolin-treated bone tissue. SQ 22, 536 and 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine (100 mumol l-1) both inhibited rolipram-stimulated cAMP formation. Cyclic AMP accumulation in isolated osteoblast-like cells from neonatal mouse calvarial bones was stimulated by NECA (10 and 100 mumol l-1) and 2-chloroadenosine (100 mumol l-1). 2-chloroadenosine (10 and 30 mumol l-1), but not NECA, PIA nor CHA, caused a dose-dependent stimulation of 45Ca release in both 48- and 120-h culture. The effect of 2-chloroadenosine on 45Ca release could not be antagonized by theophylline. Neither NECA, PIA, CHA nor 2-chloroadenosine could affect PTH-stimulated 45Ca release in short term cultures (6, 24 h). By contrast, stimulation of cAMP formation by forskolin or dibutyryl cAMP caused a rapid (6 h) inhibition of PTH-stimulated bone resorption. The results demonstrate functional A2 and P-site receptors in mouse calvaria and osteoblast-like cells, but no A1-receptor was detected. These adenosine receptors regulate cAMP, but are not intimately linked to bone resorption. The calcium mobilization induced by 2-chloroadenosine appears to be unrelated to adenosine receptors.