Adenosine receptors and nucleoside transport sites in cardiac cells.

1. Potential mechanisms responsible for the prominent depression of atrioventricular conduction by adenosine have been investigated in guinea-pig heart. 2. Adenosine A1 receptors and nucleoside transport (NT) sites were identified and enumerated in cardiac myocytes, atrioventricular conduction cells and coronary endothelial cells in 10 microns sections by autoradiographical analysis of the binding of the A1 selective antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-[3H]-dipropylxanthine ([3H]-DPCPX) and the NT ligand [3H]-nitrobenzylthioinosine ([3H]-NBMPR), respectively. 3. Atrioventricular conduction cells were identified by acetylcholinesterase histochemistry and endothelial cells by von Willebrand factor immunohistochemistry. 4. Site-specific binding of [3H]-DPCPX, when expressed as grains per cell nucleus was significantly higher (30 fold) in conduction cells than in surrounding myocytes. [3H]-DPCPX site density on endothelial cells in adjacent coronary vessels was not significantly different from myocytes. 5. In contrast, autoradiography of [3H]-NBMPR sites in these areas indicated that, relative to myocytes, conduction cells and endothelial cells were significantly enriched (2 fold and 4.5 fold, respectively) in NT sites. 6. The pronounced dromotropic effect of adenosine in guinea-pig heart is correlated with a higher density of adenosine A1 receptors in atrioventricular conduction cells than in myocytes. The NT capacity of these cells, as estimated by [3H]-NBMPR binding site density, is not increased in proportion to A1 receptors.