Comparative effects of adenosine and nifedipine in rabbit vascular smooth muscle

The calcium channel blocker nifedipine attenuates the coronary response to adenosine infusion and reactive hyperemia in dogs. Other evidence indicates adenosine may dilate vascular smooth muscle with a mechanism similar to the calcium channel blockers. In isolated rabbit femoral arterial rings, we studied the interaction of adenosine and nifedipine in mediating vascular relaxation. We also compared the actions of adenosine and nifedipine in relaxing norepinephrine- and K+-stimulated tension, and Ca2+-free contractions in an effort to elucidate differences in the specificity of the two agents. Nifedipine (10-25 micrograms/L) was without effect on adenosine-mediated relaxation of femoral arteries. Adenosine exhibited a greater ability to relax NE-induced contractions and contractions in Ca2+-free medium than did nifedipine. Conversely, nifedipine attenuated K+-induced contractions more effectively than adenosine. These results suggest that adenosine and nifedipine have different cellular actions and that part of adenosine-mediated relaxation may operate intracellularly. Furthermore, the negative interaction of nifedipine and adenosine in vivo suggests that these agents might act differently in an in vitro setting.