Nucleotide-evoked relaxation of rat vas deferens: possible mechanisms

ATP causes relaxation of the K(+)-contracted rat vas deferens. Possible sites of action were investigated. ATP and adenosine relaxed the vas deferens precontracted with 80 mM K(+); EC(50) values and maximal relaxations averaged, respectively, 760 microM and 56% for ATP and 74 microM and 30% for adenosine. The adenosine P1 receptor antagonist 8-(para-sulfophenyl)theophylline (8-SPT) reduced relaxations caused by adenosine and low concentrations of ATP, as did the Rp-diastereomer of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic phosphorothioate (Rp-cAMPS), an inhibitor of protein kinase A. The phosphodiesterase inhibitor 4-(3-butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidinone (Ro 20-1724) augmented responses to adenosine and low concentrations of ATP. alpha,beta-Methylene ADP, an inhibitor of 5'-nucleotidase, reduced relaxations caused by ATP to a similar extent as did 8-SPT. In the presence of an almost saturating concentration of adenosine, ATP caused further relaxation. Conversely, in the presence of ATP, adenosine had little effect. Like ATP, UTP and other nucleoside triphosphates relaxed the vas deferens. The P2 receptor antagonists reactive blue 2, acid blue 25 and 4,4'-diisothiocyanotostilbene-2,2'-disulphonate (DIDS) attenuated the relaxation caused by ATP; suramin, pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulphonate (PPADS), Evans blue, trypan blue, reactive red 2 and brilliant blue G had no effect. Three non-selective inhibitors of protein kinases, 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7), staurosporine and (8R*,9S*,11S*)-(-)-9-hydroxy-9-carboxy-8-methyl-2,3,9,10-tetrahydro-8,11-epoxy-1H,8H,11H-2,7b,11a-triazadibenzo[a,g]cycloocta[cde]trinden-1-one (K-252b), markedly reduced the relaxation caused by ATP. The results indicate that adenosine, derived from enzymatic dephosphorylation, contributes to the relaxant effect of ATP, presumably by activation of a smooth muscle adenosine receptor linked to the accumulation of cAMP and activation of protein kinase A. Yet, the main part of the response to ATP is mediated by a site distinct from the adenosine receptor. The pharmacological properties of this site differ from known P2 receptor subtypes. Possibly, the nucleotide-evoked relaxation is due to a phosphoryl transfer catalyzed by an ecto-protein kinase.