Differential effects of ATP- and 2-methylthioATP-induced relaxation in guinea pig coronary vasculature.

The Langendorff heart preparation was used to investigate the mechanism of action of vasodilatation evoked by ATP and its analogues in guinea pig coronary vasculature. The relative order of potency of ATP and its analogues in causing a reduction in perfusion pressure was 2-methylthioATP (2-meSATP) > ATP > beta, gamma-methyleneATP (beta,gamma-meATP) > or = alpha,beta-methyleneATP (alpha,beta-meATP), thus establishing the presence of P2y-purinoceptors in this preparation. L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 3 x 10(-5) M) significantly attenuated both the area under the flow-time curve and the maximum decrease in perfusion pressure of the vasodilatation produced in response to 2-meSATP (5 x 10(-12)-5 x 10(-9) mol). However, for ATP (5 x 10(-7)-5 x 10(-10) mol), L-NAME 3 x 10(-5) M significantly attenuated the area under the flow-time curve of the response but did not reduce the maximum decrease in perfusion pressure except at one low dose (5 x 10(-10) mol). L-Arginine 1.5 x 10(-3) M significantly reversed inhibition of the area under the flow-time curve of the response to 2-meSATP 5 x 10(-10) mol and ATP 5 x 10(-8) mol by L-NAME 3 x 10(-5) M. The maximum decrease in perfusion pressure of the response to ATP 5 x 10(-10)-5 x 10(-7) mol was significantly attenuated in the presence of indomethacin 10(-6) M.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)