Adenosine potentiates sympathomimetic effects of nicotinic agonists in vivo.

We showed previously that circulating adenosine potentiates pressor responses to nicotine in rats, apparently by enhancing the effects of nicotine in sympathetic ganglia. In the present studies, we examined the effects of adenosine (or synthetic adenosine receptor agonists) on a variety of sympathomimetic responses to nicotine (or other nicotinic cholinergic agonists). Indices of sympathetic activity examined were: blood pressure; heart rate; eyelid tension; and vas deferens perfusion pressure. Elevation of arterial plasma adenosine from its basal level (approximately 1.5 microM) to 2 to 3 microM (by i.v. adenosine infusion) had no effect on the basal value of any of these indices, but increased by 2.5 to 4-fold their peak responses to nicotine (40 microgram/kg i.v.). Adenosine also strongly enhanced sympathomimetic responses to inhaled cigarette smoke. The adenosine receptor antagonist caffeine (10 mg/kg) suppressed the ability of adenosine to potentiate these responses to nicotine. Pressor responses to the nicotinic cholinergic receptor agonists dimethylphenylpiperazinium iodide, tetramethylammonium, lobeline and cytisin were also potentiated by adenosine. Low doses (0.25-5 mu/kg) of synthetic adenosine receptor agonists potentiated all four of the tested sympathomimetic responses to nicotine, exhibiting the rank order of potency: N-Cyclopropylcarboxamidoadenosine greater than 2-Chloroadenosine greater than N6-R-Phenylisopropyl adenosine greater than N6-S-Phenylisopropyladenosine. The nonpurinergic vasodilator sodium nitroprusside failed to potentiate responses to nicotine, suggesting that the influence of adenosine on responses to nicotine is not secondary to its direct circulatory effects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)