Interaction of 2',3'-di-O-nitro-5'-(N-ethylcarboxamido)adenosine with adenosine receptors in intestinal smooth muscle

The adenosine derivative, 2'3'-di-O-nitro-(5'-N-ethylcarboxamido)adenosine (DINECA), caused relaxation in several isolated smooth muscle preparations including guinea pig taenia caeci, beef coronary arteries, and rabbit small intestine. In rabbit small intestine the response profile of DINECA action differed from that of established adenosine receptor agonists and, in contrast with the latter, its relaxant effect was only partially reversed by the antagonist 8-p-sulfophenyltheophylline. Concentration-response curves to 5'-(N-ethylcarboxamido)adenosine (NECA), but not those to DINECA, were significantly shifted to the right by 100 microM of 8-sulfophenyltheophylline. Tissues exposed previously to DINECA became refractory to adenosine, an effect not observed with tissues exposed to NECA, suggesting that DINECA became bound to adenosine receptors. Adenylate cyclase from neuroblastoma cells, containing Ra-type adenosine receptors, was stimulated by 2-chloroadenosine and NECA but not by DINECA. The results suggest that most of the smooth muscle relaxant actions of DINECA are not due to interaction with adenosine receptors but are probably due to its function as a nitrate. However, DINECA appears to interact with adenosine receptors, causing long lasting inhibition of adenosine action in rabbit intestine. Such actions may contribute to the overall response to DINECA application in vivo, although lowering of blood pressure due to the high reactivity of the vasculature to nitrates may be the initial and major effect.