ATP-MgCl2 treatment after trauma-hemorrhage/resuscitation increases hepatocyte P2-purinoceptor binding capacity

Although our studies indicate that P2-purinoceptor binding capacity decreases after hemorrhage and resuscitation, it is not known whether ATP-MgCl2 administration after hemorrhage has any beneficial effects on the receptor dynamics. To study this, we performed laparotomy (i.e., trauma induced) on rats and bled them to and maintained them at a mean arterial pressure of 40 mmHg until 40% of maximum bleedout volume was returned in the form of Ringer lactate (RL). The animals were then resuscitated with 3 times the volume of maximum bleedout with RL over 45 min followed by 2 times RL along with ATP-MgCl2 (50 mumol/kg body wt) over 95 min. Hepatocytes were isolated at 4, 17, and 27 h after resuscitation. P2-purinoceptor binding characteristics were determined by using [alpha-35S]ATP. Scatchard analysis revealed high-affinity and low-affinity receptor components in the hepatocytes isolated from sham-operated or hemorrhaged animals with or without ATP-MgCl2 infusion. ATP-MgCl2 ameliorated and subsequently restored the decreased maximum binding capacity (Bmax) of the high-affinity receptor component and significantly improved Bmax of the low-affinity receptor component. ATP-MgCl2 administration also produced a progressive enhancement in the affinity of the low-affinity receptor component. Thus the beneficial effects of ATP-MgCl2 observed after trauma-hemorrhage and resuscitation may be, in part, due to the restoration of P2-purinoceptor binding capacity and the enhancement of the receptor affinity.