Interaction of adenosine and its phosphorylated derivatives with putative purinergic receptors in the gill vascular bed of rainbow trout.

1. The haemodynamic responses of trout gill to pulses of adenosine and related nucleotides were recorded in isolated trout head preparations. 2. Pulses of adenosine and related nucleotides induced a vasoconstriction of arterial gill vessels. Theophylline antagonized the resonse to adenosine but had not influence on its metabolism. 3. Dipyridamole and two adenosine deaminase inhibitors [deoxycoformycin and erythro-9(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl) adenine] had no effect on either the haemodynamic response of adenosine or its deamination and its uptake by gill tissues. 4. The adenosine response was neither mediated by cholinergic nor adrenergic receptors. 5. These results suggest the existence of extracellular "purinergic receptors" in the gills of trout.