Ca(2+)-channel modulation by adenosine was investigated in enzymatically dispersed adult rat superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons using the whole-cell variant of the patch-clamp technique. 2. Adenosine produced a concentration-dependent decrease in the Ca(2+)-current amplitude with an EC50 of 174 nM and maximum inhibition of 36%. The effects of adenosine on the Ca2+ current were both time and voltage dependent. The inhibition was maximal at +10 mV and decreased at either hyperpolarizing or depolarizing potentials. 3. The inhibitory response desensitized after prolonged (> 1 min) exposure to 10 microM adenosine, whereas multiple brief (< 30 s) applications slightly decreased the subsequent response. 4. Adenosine-induced Ca2+ current inhibition was mediated by an A1-type adenosine receptor, because the half-maximal inhibition value for an A1 receptor selective agonist, chloro-N-cyclopentyladenosine, was 1,000-fold lower than that for an A2 receptor selective agonist, 2-p-(2-carboxyethyl)phenethylamino-5'-N-ethylcarbozamido adenosine hydrochloride (33 nM vs. 40 microM, respectively). 5. A guanine nucleotide binding protein (G protein) appeared to be involved in the action of adenosine, because: 1) the adenosine-induced current inhibition could be largely relieved by depolarizing voltage prepulses; 2) tail current analysis revealed that adenosine shifted Ca(2+)-channel activation to more depolarized potentials; and 3) adenosine inhibition was abolished by 2 mM intracellular guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) or 500 ng/ml pertussis toxin pretreatment. 6. Adenosine did not appear to inhibit L-type Ca2+ channels, because the prolonged tail current component induced by the dihydropyridine "agonist" 2,6-dimethy-3-carbomethoxy-5-nitro-4-(2-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)- 1,4-dihydropyridine (2 microM) was not affected by adenosine. 7. Adenosine-induced inhibition was reduced to approximately 15% after application of 10 microM omega-conotoxin GVIA, suggesting that adenosine primarily inhibits N-type Ca2+ channels. The Ca(2+)-current component resistant to omega-conotoxin GVIA was also resistant to omega-agatoxin IVA (200 nM), suggesting a lack of P-type of Ca2+ channels in SCG neurons. 8. In conclusion, adenosine produces a dose-, time-, and voltage-dependent inhibition of Ca2+ currents in SCG neurons. Adenosine acts on an A1 adenosine receptor subtype in SCG neurons via a pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein to inhibit N-type Ca2+ channels and an unidentified Ca(2+)-current component. Modulation of Ca2+ currents by adenosine may be an important mechanism for its inhibitory effect on neurotransmitter release in sympathetic neurons.
