Effects of adenosine on Ca2+ transients and tension in aequorin-injected ferret papillary muscles

The effects of adenosine on Ca2+ transients and tension in ferret papillary muscles were investigated using the aequorin method. Adenosine (0.01-1 mM) reduced the peak of Ca2+ transients and caused a slight concentration-dependent decrease in tension. Adenosine prolonged the decay time of Ca2+ transients but did not alter the time course of tension. In isoproterenol (0.1 microM)-treated preparations, adenosine decreased the peak of Ca2+ transients but did not alter the peak of tension. Adenosine prolonged the isoproterenol-shortened decay time of Ca2+ transients. The effects of adenosine on Ca2+ transients were antagonized by the selective A1 receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3,-dipropylxanthine. In the presence of isoproterenol, adenosine (0.1 mM) shifted the intracellular [Ca2+]/tension relation to the left. These results can be explained by the hypothesis that adenosine inhibits the activity of adenylate cyclase via stimulation of the A1 receptor, other mechanisms however cannot be overlooked. The prolongation of the decay time of Ca2+ transients and the increase in the Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile elements are the underlying mechanisms of adenosine which maintain developed tension in twitch response, although adenosine decreases the peak of Ca2+ transients.