Characterization of a stimulatory adenosine A2a receptor in adult rat ventricular myocyte

The expression and function of stimulatory adenosine A2 receptor on the cardiac myocyte is not well defined. The objective of the present study is to characterize the A2a receptor in adult rat cardiac ventricular myocytes. After selection of an optimal lot of collagenase for myocyte isolation and for consistent measurement of adenosine-mediated responses, the A1-receptor pathway was inactivated by pertussis toxin and by the A1-selective antagonist 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine. Effects of the adenosine agonist and antagonist or cardiac myocyte contractile amplitude and on adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) levels were determined. The A2a-receptor-selective agonist 2-[p-(2-carboxyethyl)phenylethylamino]-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoade nos ine (CGS-21680) caused a pronounced stimulation of myocyte contractile amplitude and an increase in the cAMP level, as did the nonselective agonists 5'-(N-ethylcarboxamido) adenosine (NECA) and adenosine. The A2a-receptor-selective antagonist 8-(3-chlorostyryl)caffeine blocked the NECA- and adenosine-induced positive inotropic response. Probing of myocyte RNA with a rat A2a-receptor cDNA demonstrated a 2.6-kb mRNA, corresponding to that encoding the A2a receptor. Together, data from contractile, cAMP, and RNA studies indicate that A2a receptors are expressed and are functionally coupled to stimulation of cAMP accumulation and cardiac contractility in adult rat ventricular myocytes.