Effect of dipyridamole on adenosine incorporation into hypoxanthine nucleotides of fresh human red cells.

Fresh human red cells were incubated for 2 hours in a medium containing adenosine, pyruvate and inorganic phosphate (APP medium), or in APP medium supplemented with 10(-4) M dipyridamole (APPD medium). No measureable amount of ITP was found in fresh red cells, and the average IMP content in these cells was 0.18 +/- 0.09 mumol/g Hb. After 2 hours incubation in APP medium, the IMP content increased almost 8.5-fold to 1.52 +/- 0.78 mumol/g Hb. Under these conditions the ITP level also increased to 1.40 +/- 0.84 mumol/g Hb. After 2 hours incubation of red cells in APPD medium, the average IMP content increased to 5.30 +/- 2.33 mumol/g Hb, about 3.5 times that found in APP medium. At the same time ITP content was about 53.6% lower, that is 0.65 mumol/g Hb. In red cells incubated in APPD medium, penetration of 8-14C-adenosine decreased by 50%, and incorporation of this nucleotide into the pool of all free nucleotides also decreased by 18.2% as compared to red cells incubated in APP medium. It is concluded that IMP is probably formed directly from AMP gained by the phosphorylation of adenosine during its penetration.