The effect of adenyl compounds on the rat heart.

1 The effects of adenyl compounds were examined on the rat atrium and ventricle. 2 Adenosine, adenosine 5'-monophosphate, adenosine 5'-diphosphate, adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and beta, gamma-methylene ATP (APPCP) produced negative inotropic effects on the rat atrium. These inhibitory effects were antagonized by 8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT), a P1-purinoceptor antagonist, and potentiated by erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl) adenine (EHNA), an adenosine deaminase inhibitor, but were not affected by dipyridamole, which blocks adenosine uptake. 3 alpha, beta-Methylene ATP (APCPP), which is resistant to degradation, did not produce a similar inhibitory response in the rat atrium. 4 Adenosine did not affect the basal developed force of the rat ventricle nor did it affect the beta-adrenoceptor-mediated positive inotropic effect. 5 Very high concentrations of ATP (0.1-3 mM) produced negative inotropic effects in the rat ventricle. APPCP (0.3 mM) also produced an inhibitory response, which was significantly smaller than that produced by ATP (0.3 mM). APCPP elicited excitation rather than the expected inhibitory response. 6 The inhibitory effect of ATP in the rat ventricle was not blocked by indomethacin, 8-PT or atropine. 7 It is possible that the action of ATP in the rat ventricle is mediated via P2-purinoceptors and that the lack of inhibitory action of APCPP on the rat ventricle is due to the difference in structural conformation between ATP and APCPP. 8 It seems likely that inhibitory P1-purinoceptors are present in the rat atrium and that the inhibitory responses produced by ATP in the rat ventricle may be mediated via P2-purinoceptors.