On the role, inactivation and origin of endogenous adenosine at the frog neuromuscular junction

1. The effects of adenosine deaminase, inosine, alkylxanthines (8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT), theophylline and isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX], dipyridamole, alpha, beta-methylene ADP (AOPCP) and ATP analogues (alpha, beta-methylene ATP and beta, gamma-methylene ATP) on evoked end-plate potentials (e.p.p.s) were investigated in innervated sartorius muscles of the frog, in which twitches had been prevented with tubocurarine. The effects of 8-PT and IBMX on the amplitude and quantal content of e.p.p.s were also investigated in innervated sartorius muscles of the frog, in which twitches had been prevented with high-magnesium solutions. 2. Adenosine deaminase reversibly increased the amplitude of e.p.p.s and prevented the reduction caused by exogenously applied adenosine on e.p.p. amplitude. The increase caused by adenosine deaminase was equivalent to the decrease caused by 12 +/- 5.8 microM-adenosine on e.p.p. amplitude. 3. Inosine, the product of adenosine deamination, was virtually devoid of effect on e.p.p.s. 4. The adenosine receptor antagonists at the frog neuromuscular junction, 8-PT and theophylline, increased in a concentration-dependent manner the amplitude of e.p.p.s in the presence of tubocurarine. 8-PT increased the amplitude and quantal content of e.p.p.s in the presence of high magnesium. IBMX, which does not behave as an adenosine receptor antagonist at the frog neuromuscular junction, decreased the amplitude of e.p.p.s in the presence of tubocurarine or high-magnesium solutions. 5. Dipyridamole, an adenosine uptake blocker, decreased the amplitude of e.p.p.s, and in a concentration that did not affect neuromuscular transmission potentiated the depressing effect of adenosine, but not that of 2-chloroadenosine, on the amplitude of e.p.p.s. 6. AOPCP, an inhibitor of 5'-nucleotidase, increased the amplitude of e.p.p.s and markedly attenuated the depressing effect of ATP, but not that of adenosine, on e.p.p. amplitude. 7. The ATP analogue, alpha, beta-methylene ATP, which is not a substrate for 5'-nucleotidase, was virtually devoid of effect on e.p.p.s. beta, gamma-Methylene ATP, which can be a substrate for 5'-nucleotidase, mimicked the depressing effect of ATP on e.p.p. amplitude, an effect which was also reduced by AOPCP. 8. It is concluded that in conditions in which the initial quantal content is assumed to be normal (1) endogenous adenosine depresses neuromuscular transmission, (2) at the neuromuscular junction adenosine is inactivated through a dipyridamole-sensitive uptake process, and (3) released adenine nucleotides might contribute to the pool of endogenous adenosine which modulates neuromuscular transmission.