The antihypertensive effect of 2-alkynyladenosines and their selective affinity for adenosine A2 receptors.

We examined the affinity for adenosine receptors and the antihypertensive effects of 2-alkynyladenosines, especially 2-hexynyladenosine (2-H-Ado) and 2-octynyladenosine (2-O-Ado). The order of decreasing affinity of 2-H-Ado, 2-O-Ado, and other agonists tested for A1 receptors was N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) greater than N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA) greater than N6-R-phenylisopropyladenosine (R-PIA) greater than 2-chloroadenosine (CADO) = 5'-N-ethylcarboxamideadenosine (NECA) greater than N6-S-phenylisopropyladenosine (S-PIA) greater than 2-H-Ado greater than 2-O-Ado greater than 2-phenylaminoadenosine (CV-1808), and that for A2 receptors was 2-H-Ado greater than 2-O-Ado = NECA greater than CADO greater than CV-1808 greater than R-PIA greater than CPA greater than CHA greater than S-PIA. The Ki values of 2-H-Ado and 2-O-Ado for [3H] NECA binding to A2 receptors were 4.1 and 12.1 nM, respectively, and those for [3H]CHA binding to A1 receptors were 146 and 211 nM, respectively: the affinity of 2-H-Ado and 2-O-Ado for A2 receptors was about 36- and 17-fold higher than their affinity for A1 receptors. Injection of 2-H-Ado and 2-O-Ado (0.03-100 micrograms/kg) decreased the blood pressure of anaesthetized spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). A slight decrease in heart rate was observed after i.v. injection of 100 micrograms/kg 2-H-Ado and 2-O-Ado. A potent and long-lasting antihypertensive effect was also observed after oral administration of 2-H-Ado and 2-O-Ado to conscious SHR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)