Adenosine and adenosine analogs inhibit phosphodiesterase activity in the heart.

Adenosine and its analogs (-)-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine and 5'-N-ethylcarboxamideadenosine inhibit cAMP and cGMP phosphodiesterase activity in guinea-pig atrial and ventricular preparations at concentrations of 100 mumol l-1 and higher. These effects are probably unrelated to the inotropic effects of these substances. However, inhibition of cAMP breakdown may compensate for the adenosine-induced inhibition of adenylate cyclase and may thus at least partially explain why with this drug no changes in cAMP or cGMP content have previously been observed in intact cardiac tissue.