The release of adenosine at the electric organ of Torpedo. A study using a continuous chemiluminescent method

Acetylcholine and ATP are costored and coreleased during synaptic activity at the electric organ of Torpedo. It has been suggested that released ATP is converted to adenosine at the synaptic cleft, and in turn this nucleoside would depress the evoked release of acetylcholine. In the present communication we have used a chemiluminescent reaction that let us to monitor continuously the presence of adenosine in this preparation. The chemiluminescent reaction is based on the conversion of adenosine into uric acid and H2O2 by adenosine deaminase, nucleoside phosphorylase, and xanthine oxidase enzymes. The hydrogen peroxide has been detected by peroxidase-luminol mixture. The reaction has a sensitivity on the picomol range and discerned between Adenosine, AMP, ADP, and ATP. We have developed this technique in the hope of understanding whether adenosine is released during synaptic activity or it comes from the released ATP. We have studied the release or formation of adenosine in fragments of the electric organ and in isolated cholinergic nerve terminals obtained from it. In both conditions we have followed the effect of potassium stimulation upon the detection of adenosine. Potassium stimulation increased the extracellular adenosine either in slices or the synaptosomal fraction of Torpedo electric organ. The presence of alpha, beta-methylene ADP, an inhibitor of 5'-nucleotidase, inhibits the detection of adenosine, suggesting that extracellular adenosine is a consequence of ectocellular dephosphorylation of released ATP.