Species-dependent hemodynamic effects of adenosine A3-receptor agonists IB-MECA and Cl-IB-MECA

The purpose of this study was to compare the hemodynamic effects of the adenosine A3-receptor agonists N6-(3-iodobenzyl)-9-[5-(methylcarbamoyl)-beta-D-ribofuranosyl]aden ine (IB-MECA) and 2-chloro-N6-(3-iodobenzyl)-9-[5-(methylcarbamoyl)-beta-D-ribofu ranosy l]adenine (Cl-IB-MECA) in isolated rat and rabbit hearts and in the intact, open-chest pig. Isolated hearts perfused with Krebs-Henseleit buffer at a constant pressure (70 mmHg) were treated with 50 nM of either IB-MECA or Cl-IB-MECA. Neither IB-MECA nor Cl-IB-MECA altered ventricular function or heart rate in the isolated rat and rabbit hearts, and neither agent altered coronary flow in the rabbit. However, 2 min of IB-MECA treatment in the isolated rat heart increased coronary flow by 25%, an effect that did not exhibit tachyphylaxis. The IB-MECA-induced coronary dilation was only partially attenuated by the adenosine A3-receptor antagonist MRS-1191 (50 nM). IB-MECA-induced coronary dilation was completely blocked by the adenosine A2a-receptor antagonist 7-(2-phenylethyl)-5-amino-2-(2-furyl)-pyrazolo-[4,3-e]-1,2, 4-triazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidine (Sch-58261, 50 nM). Cl-IB-MECA (50 nM) did not increase coronary flow in the rat, but 100 nM did increase flow by 18%. In pentobarbital sodium-anesthetized pigs IB-MECA (5 micrograms/kg iv) decreased systemic blood pressure and increased pulmonary artery pressure, effects that did exhibit tachyphylaxis. These results illustrate that adenosine A3-receptor agonists produce species-dependent effects, which in the rat heart appear to be caused by adenosine A2a-receptor activation.