Neuromodulation by adenine nucleotides, as indicated by experiments with inhibitors of nucleotide inactivation.

The adenine nucleotides AMP, ADP and ATP (3 X 10(-7) M and above) inhibited contractile responses to transmural nerve stimulation in guinea-pig ileum longitudinal muscle via a prejunctional action. Nucleotides assumed to inhibit the degradation of adenine nucleotides were employed to determine whether inhibition of contractile responses was elicited by adenine nucleotides per se, or required breakdown to adenosine. The IMP or 2'-deoxy AMP enhanced the prejunctional inhibitory effect elicited by AMP. A similar enhancement of the inhibitory effect of ADP and ATP was seen after administration of IDP and ITP, respectively. The inhibitory effect of adenosine was not enhanced by inosine, IMP or IDP. The 5'-nucleotidase inhibitor, TDP enhanced inhibition elicited by ADP. In contrast, alpha, beta-meADP did not influence the prejunctional inhibitory effect elicited by the adenine nucleotides. However, the combination of alpha, beta-meADP and IMP enhanced the inhibitory effect of ATP. The postjunctional contractile effect elicited by ADP and ATP was enhanced by pretreatment with inosine nucleotides, alpha, beta-meADP or TDP, indicating decreased inactivation of ADP and ATP during concurrent nucleotide administration. The fact that the prejunctional effect of adenine nucleotides can be enhanced by forms of pretreatment known to antagonize the breakdown of adenine nucleotides, constitutes strong evidence for prejunctional action per se by adenine nucleotides.