Jejunal adenosine increases during food-induced jejunal hyperemia

If adenosine mediates postprandial intestinal hyperemia, increases in local adenosine release must accompany the hyperemia. We tested this by determining jejunal venous and arterial plasma adenosine concentrations, jejunal blood flow, and oxygen consumption before and during placement of normal saline or predigested food plus bile into the jejunal lumen of anesthetized dogs. Adenosine concentrations were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Luminal placement of food significantly increased blood flow (+46%), oxygen consumption (+40%), venous adenosine concentration (+56 nM), and adenosine release (+1.7 nmol.min-1.100 g tissue-1) during the initial 3 min of placement. Whereas blood flow and oxygen consumption remained elevated for the entire 15-min placement period, venous adenosine concentration and release returned to control levels at 7 and 11 min after placement, respectively. Placement of the same volume of normal saline did not significantly alter any variables measured, indicating that the food-induced changes were because of constituents of food. In conclusion, introduction of predigested food into the jejunal lumen significantly increases adenosine releases into the local venous blood during the initial several minutes of food placement. The increased adenosine production and release may play a role in postprandial jejunal hyperemia.