Central antiarrhythmic activity of adenosine in anesthetized rats

In urethane-anesthetized rats the intracerebroventricular (icv.) administration of sodium glutamate or desipramine induced cardiac arrhythmias. These cardiac rhythm disturbances could be prevented by icv. administration of adenosine. The i.v. injection of adenosine had an arrhythmogenic action. The antiarrhythmic effect of adenosine could be reversed by icv. aminophylline. It is suggested that the antiarrhythmic activity of adenosine is due to the central inhibition of release of acetylcholine, and/or noradrenalin, produced by the decreased availability of calcium for the excitation-secretion coupling.