Evidence for presynaptic adenosine A2a receptors associated with norepinephrine release and their desensitization in the rat nucleus tractus solitarius.

Rat medullary brain segments containing primarily nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) were used for superfusion studies of evoked transmitter release and for isotherm receptor binding assays. Isotherm binding assays with [3H]CGS-21680 on membranes prepared from NTS tissue blocks indicated a single high-affinity binding site with a KD of 5.1 +/- 1.4 nM and a Bmax of 20.6 +/- 2.4 fmol/mg of protein. The binding density for [3H]CGS-21680 on NTS membranes was 23 times less than comparable binding on membranes from striatal tissue. Electrically stimulated (1 min at 25 mA, 2 ms, 3 Hz) release of [3H]norepinephrine ([3H]NE) from 400-microns-thick NTS tissue slices resulted in an S2/S1 ratio of 0.96 +/- 0.02. Superfusion of single tissue slices with 0.1-100 nM CGS-21680, a selective adenosine A2a receptor agonist, for 5 min before the S2 stimulus produced a significant concentration-dependent increase in the S2/S1 fractional release ratio that was maximal (31.3% increase) at 1.0 nM. However, superfusion of tissue slices with CGS-21680 over the same concentration range for 20 min before the S2 stimulus did not alter the S2/S1 ratio significantly from control release ratios. The augmented release of [3H]NE mediated by 1.0 nM CGS-21680 with a 5-min tissue exposure was abolished by 1.0 and 10 nM CGS-15943 as well as by 100 nM 8-(3-chlorostyryl)caffeine, both A2a receptor antagonists, but not by 1.0 nM 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine, the A1 receptor antagonist.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)