Vectorial production of adenosine by 5'-nucleotidase in the perfused rat heart.

Rat hearts were perfused simultaneously with [8-3H] AMP and [8-14C]adenosine. [8-3H] AMP was hydrolzyed by 5'-nucleotidase to produce intra- and extracellular [8-3H] adenosine. Comparison of the specific activities of [3H]- and [14C]adenosine in the heart cells with the specific activities of [3H]- and [14C]adenosine in the effluent perfusate showed that much more [3H]adenosine accumulated in the tissue than would be expected if extracellular adenosine were the immediate precursor of intracellular adenosine. Conversely, perfusion of rat hearts with [8-14C]AMP and [8-3H]adenosine led to a much greater accumulation of intracellular [14C]adenosine than would be expected from an uptake of adenosine from the perfusate. These results are interpreted to be due to hydrolysis of extracellular AMP by 5'-nucleotidase, located in the plasma membrane, and release of the resulting adenosine inside the cell. Measurements of the specific activities of 3H and 14C in ATP, ADP, AMP, and inosine support this interpretation.