Actions of adenine dinucleotides on the vas deferens, guinea-pig taenia caeci and bladder.

Adenine dinucleotides such as beta-NAD, alpha-NAD, NADP, 3-aminopyridine adenine dinucleotide, flavin adenine dinucleotide, 3',5'-and 2',5'-adenylyladenosine mimicked the inhibitory effects of adenosine and adenine nucleotides on electrically evoked contractions of the rat and mouse isolated superfused vas deferens. The inhibitory effects were blocked by theophylline or adenosine deaminase, unaffected by the nucleotidase inhibitor alpha, beta-methylene ADP and enhanced by inhibition of adenosine deaminase. The inhibitory effects were associated with a release of purines from the vasa after preloading with [3H]adenosine. It is suggested that these compounds activate a receptor, causing the release of adenosine which is largely responsible for the inhibitions. Diadenosine pyrophosphate and triphosphate caused only depression of the vas twitch, whereas the pentaphosphate and hexaphosphate derivatives caused contraction, followed by inhibition at higher concentrations. These inhibitions were only partly reduced by theophylline or deaminase, but both contractile and inhibitory effects were enhanced by alpha, beta-methylene ADP. Noradrenaline contractions were also reduced by the higher polyphosphates. It is suggested that there may be a receptor for these dinucleotides, located at least in part postjunctionally. The pentaphosphate and hexaphosphate compounds mimicked the effects of nerve stimulation on the guinea-pig bladder, being substantially more potent than beta, gamma-methylene-ATP, and on the taenia caeci, where contraction or relaxation could be produced depending on resting tone.