Pertussis toxin prevents the inhibitory effect of adenosine and unmasks adenosine‐induced excitation of mammalian motor nerve endings

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Abstract
Pertussis toxin (PTX), which blocks certain classes of guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G proteins), consistently blocked the inhibitory effects of adenosine (100 μm-250 μm) on quantal acetylcholine (ACh) secretion in rat phrenic nerve hemidiaphragm preparations. PTX pretreatment also highlighted long-lasting increases in evoked ACh release elicited by adenosine. The results suggest that specific G proteins are involved in mediating the inhibitory effects of adenosine at motor nerve endings.