Abstract
The quantification of adenine nucleotides released from the heart is hampered by their rapid dephosphorylation to adenosine in the extracellular space catalyzed by highly active ectonucleotidases. To determine the total release of adenine nucleotides from isolated Langendorff-perfused guinea pig hearts, ecto 5'-nucleotidase was effectively blocked by infusion of alpha, beta-methylene-ADP (AOPCP, 50 microM). Adenine nucleotides were measured in the coronary venous effluent by the luciferin-luciferase method after enzymatic rephosphorylation to ATP. In hearts perfused at a constant flow rate (10 ml/min) with normoxic buffer (95% O2, 5% CO2) the release +/- SEM of adenine nucleotides and adenosine was 0.06 +/- 0.01 (n = 11) and 0.04 +/- 0.01 (n = 13) nmol/min. In the presence of AOPCP, the release of adenine nucleotides increased to 0.43 +/- 0.04 nmol/min (n = 9; p less than 0.05), whereas adenosine remained unchanged. Hypoxic perfusion (10% O2, 85% N2, 5% CO2) caused a threefold increase in adenine nucleoti...