Heart microvessels: presence of adenylate cyclase stimulated by catecholamines, prostaglandins, and adenosine.

Microvessels (capillaries) were isolated in pure form from rabbit ventricle by a process which involved fine mincing of the tissue, repeated incubation with collagenase to effect cell dispersal, passage of the suspended cells over a column of glass beads, and finally concentration of the capillary fraction on a step-wise sucrose gradient. Adenylate cyclase in the capillary preparation was stimulated by beta adrenergic agonists in a potency order which suggested coupling to a beta 2 subtype adrenergic receptor. Catecholamine-stimulated activity was antagonized by methoxamine, but this did not seem to be mediated through alpha adrenergic receptor activation, since it was not reversed by the alpha adrenergic antagonist phentolamine. Adenylate cyclase was stimulated by adenosine and several adenosine analogs in a potency order which suggested enzyme coupling to a stimulatory A2 receptor. Prostaglandins were also effective stimulators of enzyme activity, those of the E and A series being more potent than members of the F series. It is possible that these agents may exert their physiological actions on the microvasculature via cyclic AMP formed in response to activation of adenylate cyclase.