Effects of A(3) adenosine receptor activation and gene knock-out in ischemic-reperfused mouse heart

To characterize effects of A(3) adenosine receptor (A(3)AR) activation and gene knock-out on responses to ischemia-reperfusion in mouse heart.

Perfused hearts from wild-type and A(3)AR gene knock-out (A(3)AR KO) mice were subjected to 20 min ischemia and 30 min reperfusion. Functional responses were assessed and changes in energy metabolism and cytosolic pH monitored via 31P-NMR spectroscopy.

Selective A(3)AR agonism with 100 nM 2-chloro-N(6)-(3-iodobenzyl)-adenosine-5'-N-methyluronamide (chloro-IB-MECA) enhanced post-ischemic contractile recovery without altering contracture development in wild-type hearts, an effect unrelated to non-selective activation of A(1) or A(2) adenosine receptors. Chloro-IB-MECA also improved recovery in hearts overexpressing A(1)ARs. Paradoxically, post-ischemic recovery was enhanced by A(3)AR KO. Developed pressure, +dP/dt, and -dP/dt all recovered to higher levels in A(3)AR KO (70-80% of pre-ischemia) vs. wild-type hearts (45-50% of pre-ischemia) (P<0.05). Enhanced recovery was unrelated to recoveries of ATP, phosphocreatine (PCr), inorganic phosphate (P(i)), energy state ([ATP]/[ADP] x [P(i)], DeltaG(ATP)) or cytosolic pH.

Selective A(3)AR activation is cardioprotective in wild-type hearts and hearts overexpressing A(1)ARs, yet A(3)AR gene deletion generates an ischemia-tolerant phenotype without altering energy metabolism or pH. This may be due to compensatory changes or undefined genotypic differences in A(3)AR KO vs. wild-type hearts.