The effect of systemic hypoxia on interstitial and blood adenosine, AMP, ADP and ATP in dog skeletal muscle

Cyclooxygenase products contribute to the exaggerated exercise pressor reflex evoked by static muscle contraction in male UCD-type 2 diabetes mellitus rats

Cyclooxygenase (COX) products of arachidonic acid metabolism, specifically prostaglandins, play a role in evoking and transmitting the exercise pressor reflex in health and disease. Individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have an exaggerated exercise pressor reflex; however, the mechanisms for this exaggerated reflex are not fully understood. We aimed to determine the role played by COX products in the exaggerated exercise pressor reflex in T2DM rats. The exercise pressor reflex was evoked by static muscle contraction in unanesthetized, decerebrate, male, adult University of California Davis (UCD)-T2DM (n = 8) and healthy Sprague-Dawley (n = 8) rats. Changes (Δ) in peak mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) during muscle contraction were compared before and after intra-arterial injection of indomethacin (1 mg/kg) into the contracting hindlimb. Data are presented as means ± SD. Inhibition of COX activity attenuated the exaggerated peak MAP (Before: Δ32 ± 13 mmHg and After: Δ18 ± 8 mmHg; P = 0.004) and blood pressor index (BPi) (Before: Δ683 ± 324 mmHg·s and After: Δ361 ± 222 mmHg·s; P = 0.006), but not HR (Before: Δ23 ± 8 beats/min and After Δ19 ± 10 beats/min; P = 0.452) responses to muscle contraction in T2DM rats. In healthy rats, COX activity inhibition did not affect MAP, HR, or BPi responses to muscle contraction. Inhibition of COX activity significantly reduced local production of prostaglandin E2 in T2DM and healthy rats. We conclude that peripheral inhibition of COX activity attenuates the pressor response to muscle contraction in T2DM rats, suggesting that COX products partially contribute to the exaggerated exercise pressor reflex in those with T2DM.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We compared the pressor and cardioaccelerator responses to static muscle contraction before and after inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) activity within the contracting hindlimb in decerebrate, unanesthetized type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) and healthy rats. The pressor responses to muscle contraction were attenuated after peripheral inhibition of COX activity in T2DM but not in healthy rats. We concluded that COX products partially contribute to the exaggerated pressor reflex in those with T2DM.

Amplified P2X3 pathway activity in muscle afferent dorsal root ganglion neurons and exercise pressor reflex regulation in hindlimb ischaemia-reperfusion

Hindlimb ischaemia-reperfusion (IR) is among the most prominent pathophysiological conditions observed in peripheral artery disease (PAD). An exaggerated arterial blood pressure (BP) response during exercise is associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular events in individuals with PAD. However, the precise mechanisms leading to this exaggerated BP response are poorly elucidated. The P2X3 signalling pathway, which plays a key role in modifying the exercise pressor reflex (EPR), is the focus of the present study. We determined the regulatory role of P2X3 on the EPR in a rat model of hindlimb IR. In vivo and in vitro approaches were used to determine the expression and functions of P2X3 in muscle afferent nerves and EPR in IR rats. We found that in IR rats there was (1) upregulation of P2X3 protein expression in the L4-6 dorsal root ganglia (DRG); (2) amplified P2X currents in isolated isolectin B4 (IB4)-positive muscle DRG neurons; and (3) amplification of the P2X-mediated BP response. We further verified that both A-317491 and siRNA knockdown of P2X3 significantly decreased the activity of P2X currents in isolated muscle DRG neurons. Moreover, inhibition of muscle afferents' P2X3 receptor using A-317491 was observed to alleviate the exaggerated BP response induced by static muscle contraction and P2X-induced BP response by α,β-methylene ATP injection. P2X3 signalling pathway activity is amplified in muscle afferent DRG neurons in regulating the EPR following hindlimb IR.

Adenosine receptor signalling as a driver of pulmonary fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis is a debilitating and life-limiting lung condition in which the damage- response mechanisms of mixed-population cells within the lungs go awry. The tissue microenvironment is drastically remodelled by aberrantly activated fibroblasts which deposit ECM components into the surrounding lung tissue, detrimentally affecting lung function and capacity for gas exchange. Growing evidence suggests a role for adenosine signalling in the pathology of tissue fibrosis in a variety of organs, including the lung, but the molecular pathways through which this occurs remain largely unknown. This review explores the role of adenosine in fibrosis and evaluates the contribution of the different adenosine receptors to fibrogenesis. Therapeutic targeting of the adenosine receptors is also considered, along with clinical observations pointing towards a role for adenosine in fibrosis. In addition, the interaction between adenosine signalling and other profibrotic signalling pathways, such as TGFβ1 signalling, is discussed.

Exploring the Muscle Metabolomics in the Mouse Model of Sepsis-Induced Acquired Weakness

Background/Aim

We aimed to identify the differentially expressing metabolites (DEMs) in the muscles of the mouse model of sepsis-induced acquired weakness (sepsis-AW) using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).

Materials and Methods

Sepsis by cecal ligation puncture (CLP) with lower limb immobilization was used to produce a sepsis-AW model. After this, the grip strength of the C57BL/6 male mice was investigated. The transmission electron microscopy was utilized to determine the pathological model. LC-MS was used to detect the metabolic profiles within the mouse muscles. Additionally, a statistically diversified analysis was carried out.

Results

Compared to the sepsis group, 30 DEMs, including 17 upregulated and 13 down-regulated metabolites, were found in the sepsis-AW group. The enriched metabolic pathways including purine metabolism, valine/leucine/isoleucine biosynthesis, cGMP-PKG pathway, mTOR pathway, FoxO pathway, and PI3K-Akt pathway were found to differ between the two groups. The targeted metabolomics analysis explored significant differences between four amino acid metabolites (leucine, cysteine, tyrosine, and serine) and two energy metabolites (AMP and cAMP) in the muscles of the sepsis-AW experimental model group, which was comparable to the sepsis group.

Conclusion

The present work identified DEMs and metabolism-related pathways within the muscles of the sepsis-AW mice, which offered valuable experimental data for diagnosis and identification of the pathogenic mechanism underlying sepsis-AW.

Contribution of prostaglandins to exercise hyperaemia: workload, ethnicity and sex matter!

The contribution of prostaglandins (PGs) to exercise hyperaemia is controversial. In this review, we argue this is partly explained by differences in exercise intensity between studies. The effects of cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition and PG assays indicate that PGs contribute more at moderate to heavy than at light workloads and are mainly released by low tissue O₂ . But, the release and actions of PGs also depend on other O₂ -dependent dilators including ATP, adenosine and NO. K⁺ may inhibit the action of PGs and other mediators by causing hyperpolarization, but contributes to the hyperaemia. Thus, at lighter loads, the influence of PGs may be blunted by K⁺ , while COX inhibition leads to compensatory increases in other O₂ -dependent dilators. In addition, we show that other sources of variability are sex and ethnicity. Our findings indicate that exercise hyperaemia following rhythmic contractions at 60% maximum voluntary contraction, is smaller in young black African (BA) men and women than in their white European (WE) counterparts, but larger in men than in women of both ethnicities. We propose the larger absolute force in men causes greater vascular occlusion and accumulation of dilators, while blunted hyperaemia in BAs may reflect lower oxidative capacity and O₂ requirement. Nevertheless, COX inhibition attenuated peak hyperaemia by ∼30% in WE, BA men and WE women, indicating PGs make a substantial contribution in all three groups. There was no effect in BA women. Lack of PG involvement may provide early evidence of endothelial dysfunction, consistent in BA women with their greater risk of cardiovascular disease.

Simultaneous interference of SP1 and HIF1α retarding the proliferation, migration, and invasion of human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) under hypoxia

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the regulation of special protein 1 (SP1) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF1α) on human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) under hypoxic conditions.

METHODS

The expression of SP1 and HIF1α under normoxia and hypoxic conditions were assessed by Western blot. SP1 and HIF1α were knocked down by small interfering RNA (siRNA) under hypoxic conditions. The proliferation, migration, and invasion of HMEC-1 were measured by cell counting kit 8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine and Transwell coculture system. Western blot analysis and Immunofluorescence were carried out to study the mechanisms of simultaneously inhibiting the adenosine triphosphatase (CD39), 5'-nucleotidase (CD73), adenosine, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We compared the inhibitory effects between groups concurrently interfering SP1, HIF-1α, and ranibizumab under hypoxic conditions.

RESULTS

Under hypoxic conditions, the protein expression of SP1 and HIF1α was increased in HMEC-1, contrarily, SP1 siRNA and HIF1α siRNA downregulated the expression. Simultaneous inhibition of SP1 and HIF1α demonstrated a much greater restraint of proliferation, migration, and invasion characteristics on HMEC-1 than respectively knocking down SP1 or HIF1α and anti-VEGF drugs (0.5 mg/mL ranibizumab) (siRNA and the VEGF inhibitor were applied separately in different groups). Meanwhile, simultaneous inhibition of SP1 and HIF1α effectively reduced the expression of CD39, CD73, adenosine, and VEGF on HMEC-1 under hypoxic conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that both SP1 and HIF1α played important roles in HMEC-1 under hypoxia condition. Simultaneous inhibition of SP1 and HIF1α effectively decreased the activity of HMEC-1 under hypoxic conditions through the CD39-CD73-adenosine and VEGF angiogenesis pathways. Our study may provide a new approach to the treatment of retinal neovascular diseases.

Phosphocreatine Levels in the Left Thalamus Decline during Wakefulness and Increase after a Nap

Scientists have hypothesized that the availability of phosphocreatine (PCr) and its ratio to inorganic phosphate (Pi) in cerebral tissue form a substrate of wakefulness. It follows then, according to this hypothesis, that the exhaustion of PCr and the decline in the ratio of PCr to Pi form a substrate of fatigue. We used ³¹P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (³¹P-MRS) to investigate quantitative levels of PCr, the γ-signal of ATP, and Pi in 30 healthy humans (18 female) in the morning, in the afternoon, and while napping (n = 15) versus awake controls (n = 10). Levels of PCr (2.40 mM at 9 A.M.) decreased by 7.0 ± 0.8% (p = 7.1 × 10^-6, t = -5.5) in the left thalamus between 9 A.M. and 5 P.M. Inversely, Pi (0.74 mM at 9 A.M.) increased by 17.1 ± 5% (p = 0.005, t = 3.1) and pH levels dropped by 0.14 ± 0.07 (p = 0.002; t = 3.6). Following a 20 min nap after 5 P.M., local PCr, Pi, and pH were restored to morning levels. We did not find respective significant changes in the contralateral thalamus or in other investigated brain regions. Left hemispheric PCr was signficantly lower than right hemispheric PCr only at 5 P.M. in the thalamus and at all conditions in the temporal region. Thus, cerebral daytime-related and sleep-related molecular changes are accessible in vivo Prominent changes were identified in the thalamus. This region is heavily relied on for a series of energy-consuming tasks, such as the relay of sensory information to the cortex. Furthermore, our data confirm that lateralization of brain function is regionally dynamic and includes PCr.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The metabolites phosphocreatine (PCr) and inorganic phosphate (Pi) are assumed to inversely reflect the cellular energy load. This study detected a diurnal decrease of intracellular PCr and a nap-associated reincrease in the left thalamus. Pi behaved inversely. This outcome corroborates the role of the thalamus as a region of high energy consumption in agreement with its function as a gateway that relays and modulates information flow. Conversely to the dynamic lateralization of thalamic PCr, a constantly significant lateralization was observed in other regions. Increasing fatigue over the course of the day may also be a matter of cerebral energy supply. Comparatively fast restoration of that supply may be part of the biological basis for the recreational value of "power napping."

The Role Played by Adenosine in Modulating Reflex Sympathetic and Pressor Responses Evoked by Stimulation of TRPV1 in Muscle Afferents

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Activation of metabolite-sensitive transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) receptors (capsaicin receptors) in afferent nerves of the hindlimb muscles of rats increases renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and blood pressure (BP) via a reflex mechanism. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of adenosine in modulating the reflex RSNA and BP responses to stimulation of TRPV1.

METHODS

RSNA and BP responses were recorded in rats. Immunofluorescence and patch-clamp methods were employed to examine the receptor mechanisms responsible for the effects of adenosine.

RESULTS

Adenosine, in the concentration of 100 µM, injected into the femoral artery had an inhibitory effect on the reflex RSNA and BP responses induced by capsaicin. Likewise, arterial injection of adenosine analogue CGS21680 (A2A subtype receptor agonist, 10 µM and100 µM) also attenuated the reflex responses. In addition, co-existence of A2A and TRPV1 was observed in the dorsal root ganglion neurons. The prior application of adenosine or CGS21680 inhibited the magnitude of capsaicin-induced currents in muscle sensory neurons.

CONCLUSION

Adenosine contributes to muscle afferent TRPV1-engaged reflex sympathetic and pressor responses. It is likely that TRPV1 response is impaired as the levels of adenosine are increased in the hindlimb muscles under diseased conditions.

Purinergic P2X Receptors and Heightened Exercise Pressor Reflex in Peripheral Artery Disease

Arterial blood pressure (BP) and vasoconstriction regulated by sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) are heightened during exercise in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). The exercise pressor reflex is considered as a neural mechanism responsible for the exaggerated autonomic responses to exercise in PAD. A series of studies have employed a rat model of PAD to examine signal pathways at receptor and cellular levels by which the exercise pressor reflex is amplified. This review will summarize results obtained from recent human and animal studies with respect to contribution of muscle afferents to augmented SNA and BP responses in PAD. The role played by adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and ATP sensitive purinergic P2X receptors will be emphasized.

From one generation to the next: a comprehensive account of sympathetic receptor control in branching arteriolar trees

The effect of the sympathetic nervous system on blood flow distribution within skeletal muscle microvasculature is conditional upon regional activation of receptors for sympathetic neurotransmitters. Previous studies have shown that proximal arterioles are largely governed by adrenergic activation, whereas it is speculated that distal branches are controlled by peptidergic and purinergic activation. However, no study has systematically evaluated the activation of adrenergic, peptidergic and purinergic receptors in continuously branching arteriolar trees of an individual skeletal muscle model. Therefore, in the present study, sympathetic agonists were used to evaluate the constriction responses along first to fifth order arterioles in continuously branching arteriolar trees of a in vivo rat gluteus maximus muscle preparation with respect to specific activation of receptors for sympathetic neurotransmitters (α1R, α2R, NPY1R and P2X1R). Constriction responses were incorporated into a mathematical blood flow model to estimate the total flow, resistance and red blood cell flow heterogeneity within a computationally reconstructed gluteus maximus arteriolar network. For the first time, the effects of activating receptors for sympathetic neurotransmitters on vasoconstrictor responses and the ensuing haemodynamics in continuously branching arteriolar trees of skeletal muscle were characterized, where proximal arterioles responded most to α1R and α2R adrenergic activation, whereas distal arterioles responded most to Y1R and P2X1R activation. Total flow and resistance changed with activation of all receptors, whereas red blood cell flow heterogeneity was largely affected by peptidergic and purinergic activation in distal arterioles. The reported data highlight the functional consequences of topologically-dependent sympathetic control and may serve as novel input parameters in computational modelling of network flow.

Exaggerated increases in blood pressure during isometric muscle contraction in hypertension: role for purinergic receptors

Physical activity is a cornerstone therapy for the primary prevention and treatment of hypertension, which is becoming increasingly prevalent in modern societies. During exercise, heart rate and blood pressure (BP) increase in order to acutely meet the metabolic demands of the working skeletal muscle. In hypertensive adults, isometric exercise-induced increases in BP are excessive, potentially increasing the risk of an acute cardiovascular event during or after physical activity. Recently, the skeletal muscle metaboreflex has emerged as a significant contributor to the development of aberrant cardiovascular control during isometric exercise in this clinical population. Our laboratory has conducted a series of studies characterizing the skeletal muscle metaboreflex in hypertensive humans. We and others have demonstrated that hypertension is characterized by greater increases in muscle sympathetic nerve activity and BP during selective activation of the metaboreflex during post-exercise muscle ischemia compared to the increases noted in healthy age-matched normotensive adults, suggesting that the skeletal muscle metaboreflex is exaggerated in human hypertension. The focus of this review is the skeletal muscle metaboreflex (i.e., the metabolic component of the exercise pressor reflex) in hypertension, with particular emphasis on the potential role of purinergic receptors in mediating the exaggerated responses to muscle metaboreflex activation.

Intracellular adenosine formation and release by freshly-isolated vascular endothelial cells from rat skeletal muscle: effects of hypoxia and/or acidosis

Previous studies suggested indirectly that vascular endothelial cells (VECs) might be able to release intracellularly-formed adenosine. We isolated VECs from the rat soleus muscle using collagenase digestion and magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS). The VEC preparation had >90% purity based on cell morphology, fluorescence immunostaining, and RT-PCR of endothelial markers. The kinetic properties of endothelial cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase suggested it was the AMP-preferring N-I isoform: its catalytic activity was 4 times higher than ecto-5'nucleotidase. Adenosine kinase had 50 times greater catalytic activity than adenosine deaminase, suggesting that adenosine removal in VECs is mainly through incorporation into adenine nucleotides. The maximal activities of cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase and adenosine kinase were similar. Adenosine and ATP accumulated in the medium surrounding VECs in primary culture. Hypoxia doubled the adenosine, but ATP was unchanged; AOPCP did not alter medium adenosine, suggesting that hypoxic VECs had released intracellularly-formed adenosine. Acidosis increased medium ATP, but extracellular conversion of ATP to AMP was inhibited, and adenosine remained unchanged. Acidosis in the buffer-perfused rat gracilis muscle elevated AMP and adenosine in the venous effluent, but AOPCP abolished the increase in adenosine, suggesting that adenosine is formed extracellularly by non-endothelial tissues during acidosis in vivo. Hypoxia plus acidosis increased medium ATP by a similar amount to acidosis alone and adenosine 6-fold; AOPCP returned the medium adenosine to the level seen with hypoxia alone. These data suggest that VECs release intracellularly formed adenosine in hypoxia, ATP during acidosis, and both under simulated ischaemic conditions, with further extracellular conversion of ATP to adenosine.

Nerve Growth Factor, Muscle Afferent Receptors and Autonomic Responsiveness with Femoral Artery Occlusion

The exercise pressor reflex is a neural control mechanism responsible for the cardiovascular responses to exercise. As exercise is initiated, thin fiber muscle afferent nerves are activated by mechanical and metabolic stimuli arising in the contracting muscles. This leads to reflex increases in arterial blood pressure and heart rate primarily through activation of sympathetic nerve activity (SNA). Studies of humans and animals have indicated that the exercise pressor reflex is exaggerated in a number of cardiovascular diseases. For the last several years, a series of studies have employed a rodent model to examine the mechanisms at receptor and cellular levels by which responses of SNA and blood pressure to static exercise are heightened in peripheral artery disease (PAD), one of the most common cardiovascular disorders. Specifically, femoral artery occlusion is used to study intermittent claudication that is observed in human PAD. Our studies have demonstrated that the receptors on thin fiber muscle afferents including transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1), purinergic P2X3 and acid sensing ion channel subtype 3 (ASIC3) are engaged in augmented autonomic responses this disease. This review will present some of recent results in regard with several receptors in muscle sensory neurons in contribution to augmented autonomic responses in PAD. We will emphasize the role played by nerve growth factor (NGF) in regulating those sensory receptors in the processing of amplified exercise pressor reflex. Also, we will discuss the role played by hypoxia-inducible facor-1α regarding the enhanced autonomic reflex with femoral artery occlusion. The purpose of this review is to focus on a theme namely that PAD accentuates reflexively autonomic responses to exercise and further address regulatory mechanisms leading to abnormal autonomic responsiveness.

Purinergic 2X receptors play a role in evoking the exercise pressor reflex in rats with peripheral artery insufficiency

Purinergic 2X (P2X) receptors on the endings of thin fiber afferents have been shown to play a role in evoking the exercise pressor reflex in cats. In this study, we attempted to extend this finding to decerebrated, unanesthetized rats whose femoral arteries were either freely perfused or were ligated 72 h before the start of the experiment. We first established that our dose of pyridoxal phosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonic acid (PPADS; 10 mg/kg), a P2X receptor antagonist, attenuated the pressor response to α,β-methylene ATP (10 μg/kg), a P2X receptor agonist. We then compared the exercise pressor reflex before and after infusing PPADS into the arterial supply of the hindlimb muscles that were statically contracted. In rats with freely perfused femoral arteries, the peak pressor responses to contraction were not significantly attenuated by PPADS (before PPADS: 19 ± 2 mmHg, 13 min after PPADS: 17 ± 2 mmHg, and 25 min after PPADS: 17 ± 3 mmHg). Likewise, the cardioaccelerator and renal sympathetic nerve responses were not significantly attenuated. In contrast, we found that in rats whose femoral arteries were ligated PPADS significantly attenuated the peak pressor responses to contraction (before PPADS: 37 ± 5 mmHg, 13 min after PPADS: 27 ± 6 mmHg, and 25 min after PPADS: 25 ± 5 mmHg; P < 0.05). Heart rate was not significantly attenuated, but renal SNA was at certain time points over the 30-s contraction period. We conclude that P2X receptors play a substantial role in evoking the exercise pressor reflex in rats whose femoral arteries were ligated but play only a minimal role in evoking the reflex in rats whose femoral arteries were freely perfused.

Effect of extraluminal ATP application on vascular tone and blood flow in skeletal muscle: implications for exercise hyperemia

During skeletal muscle contractions, the concentration of ATP increases in muscle interstitial fluid as measured by microdialysis probes. This increase is associated with the magnitude of blood flow, suggesting that interstitial ATP may be important for contraction-induced vasodilation. However, interstitial ATP has solely been described to induce vasoconstriction in skeletal muscle. To examine whether interstitial ATP induces vasodilation in skeletal muscle and to what extent this vasoactive effect is mediated by formation of nitric oxide (NO) and prostanoids, three different experimental models were studied. The rat gluteus maximus skeletal muscle model was used to study changes in local skeletal muscle hemodynamics. Superfused ATP at concentrations found during muscle contractions (1-10 μM) increased blood flow by up to 400%. In this model, the underlying mechanism was also examined by inhibition of NO and prostanoid formation. Inhibition of these systems abolished the vasodilator effect of ATP. Cell-culture experiments verified ATP-induced formation of NO and prostacyclin in rat skeletal muscle microvascular endothelial cells, and ATP-induced formation of NO in rat skeletal muscle cells. To confirm these findings in humans, ATP was infused into skeletal muscle interstitium of healthy subjects via microdialysis probes and found to increase muscle interstitial concentrations of NO and prostacyclin by ~60% and ~40%, respectively. Collectively, these data suggest that a physiologically relevant elevation in interstitial ATP concentrations increases muscle blood flow, indicating that the contraction-induced increase in skeletal muscle interstitial [ATP] is important for exercise hyperemia. The vasodilator effect of ATP application is mediated by NO and prostanoid formation.

Extracellular adenosine initiates rapid arteriolar vasodilation induced by a single skeletal muscle contraction in hamster cremaster muscle

AIM

Recent studies suggest that adenosine (ADO) can be produced extracellularly in response to skeletal muscle contraction. We tested the hypothesis that a single muscle contraction produces extracellular ADO rapidly enough and in physiologically relevant concentrations to be able to contribute to the rapid vasodilation that occurs at the onset of muscle contraction.

METHODS

We stimulated four to five skeletal muscle fibres in the anaesthetized hamster cremaster preparation in situ and measured the change in diameter of arterioles at a site of overlap with the stimulated muscle fibres before and after a single contraction (stimulus frequencies: 4, 20 and 60 Hz; 250 ms train duration). Muscle fibres were stimulated in the absence and presence of non-specific ADO membrane receptor antagonists 8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT, 10(-6) M) or xanthine amine congener (XAC, 10(-6) M) or an inhibitor of an extracellular source of ADO, ecto-5'-nucleotidase inhibitor α,β-methylene adenosine 5'-diphosphate (AMPCP, 10(-5) M).

RESULTS

We observed that the dilatory event at 4 s following a single contraction was significantly inhibited at all stimulus frequencies by an average of 63.9 ± 2.6% by 8-PT. The 20-s dilatory event that occurred at 20 and 60 Hz was significantly inhibited by 53.6 ± 2.6 and 73.8 ± 2.3% by 8-PT and XAC respectively. Further, both the 4- and 20-s dilatory events were significantly inhibited by AMPCP by 78.6 ± 6.6 and 67.1 ± 1.5%, respectively, at each stimulus frequency tested.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data show that ADO is produced extracellularly during a single muscle contraction and that it is produced rapidly enough and in physiologically relevant concentrations to contribute to the rapid vasodilation in response to muscle contraction.

Mechanical effects of muscle contraction increase intravascular ATP draining quiescent and active skeletal muscle in humans

Intravascular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) evokes vasodilation and is implicated in the regulation of skeletal muscle blood flow during exercise. Mechanical stresses to erythrocytes and endothelial cells stimulate ATP release in vitro. How mechanical effects of muscle contractions contribute to increased plasma ATP during exercise is largely unexplored. We tested the hypothesis that simulated mechanical effects of muscle contractions increase [ATP](venous) and ATP effluent in vivo, independent of changes in tissue metabolic demand, and further increase plasma ATP when superimposed with mild-intensity exercise. In young healthy adults, we measured forearm blood flow (FBF) (Doppler ultrasound) and plasma [ATP](v) (luciferin-luciferase assay), then calculated forearm ATP effluent (FBF×[ATP](v)) during rhythmic forearm compressions (RFC) via a blood pressure cuff at three graded pressures (50, 100, and 200 mmHg; Protocol 1; n = 10) and during RFC at 100 mmHg, 5% maximal voluntary contraction rhythmic handgrip exercise (RHG), and combined RFC + RHG (Protocol 2; n = 10). [ATP](v) increased from rest with each cuff pressure (range 144-161 vs. 64 ± 13 nmol/l), and ATP effluent was graded with pressure. In Protocol 2, [ATP](v) increased in each condition compared with rest (RFC: 123 ± 33; RHG: 51 ± 9; RFC + RHG: 96 ± 23 vs. Mean Rest: 42 ± 4 nmol/l; P < 0.05), and ATP effluent was greatest with RFC + RHG (RFC: 5.3 ± 1.4; RHG: 5.3 ± 1.1; RFC + RHG: 11.6 ± 2.7 vs. Mean Rest: 1.2 ± 0.1 nmol/min; P < 0.05). We conclude that the mechanical effects of muscle contraction can 1) independently elevate intravascular ATP draining quiescent skeletal muscle without changes in local metabolism and 2) further augment intravascular ATP during mild exercise associated with increases in metabolism and local deoxygenation; therefore, it is likely one stimulus for increasing intravascular ATP during exercise in humans.

Augmented P2X response and immunolabeling in dorsal root ganglion neurons innervating skeletal muscle following femoral artery occlusion

The responsiveness of sensory neurons to muscle metabolites is altered under the conditions of insufficient limb blood supply in some diseases, such as peripheral artery disease. The purpose of this study was to examine ATP-induced current with activation of purinergic P2X subtypes P2X₃ and P2X₂/₃ in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons of control limbs and limbs with 24 h of femoral artery occlusion using whole cell patch-clamp methods. Also, dual-labeling immunohistochemistry was employed to determine existence of P2X₃ expression in DRG neurons of thin-fiber afferents. DRG neurons from 4- to 6-wk-old rats were labeled by injecting the fluorescence tracer DiI into the hindlimb muscles 4-5 days before the recording experiments. Transient (P2X₃), mixed (P2X₃ and P2X₂/₃), and sustained (P2X₂/₃) current responses to α,β-methylene ATP (a P2X receptor agonist) are observed in small and medium DRG neurons, and size distribution of DRG neurons is similar in control and occluded limbs. However, the peak current amplitude of DRG neuron induced by stimulation of P2X₃ and/or P2X₂/₃ is larger in occluded limbs than that in control limbs. Moreover, the percentage of DRG neurons with P2X₃ transient currents is greater after arterial occlusion compared with control. In addition, a rapid desensitization was observed in DRG neurons with transient currents, but not with sustained currents in control and occluded groups. Furthermore, results from immunofluorescence experiments show that femoral artery occlusion primarily augments P2X₃ expression within DRG neurons projecting C-fiber afferents. Overall, these findings suggest that 1) greater ATP-induced currents with activation of P2X₃ and P2X₂/₃ are developed when hindlimb arterial blood supply is deficient under ischemic conditions and 2) increased P2X₃ expression is largely observed in C-fibers of DRG neurons after hindlimb vascular insufficiency.

Contribution of non-endothelium-dependent substances to exercise hyperaemia: are they O(2) dependent?

This review considers the contributions to exercise hyperaemia of substances released into the interstitial fluid, with emphasis on whether they are endothelium dependent or O(2) dependent. The early phase of exercise hyperaemia is attributable to K(+) released from contracting muscle fibres and acting extraluminally on arterioles. Hyperpolarization of vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells induced by K(+) may also facilitate the maintained phase, for example by facilitating conduction of dilator signals upstream. ATP is released into the interstitium from muscle fibres, at least in part through cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator-associated channels, following the fall in intracellular H(+). ATP is metabolized by ectonucleotidases to adenosine, which dilates arterioles via A(2A) receptors, in a nitric oxide-independent manner. Evidence is presented that the rise in arterial achieved by breathing 40% O(2) attenuates efflux of H(+) and lactate, thereby decreasing the contribution that adenosine makes to exercise hyperaemia; efflux of inorganic phosphate and its contribution may likewise be attenuated. Prostaglandins (PGs), PGE(2) and PGI(2), also accumulate in the interstitium during exercise, and breathing 40% O(2) abolished the contribution of PGs to exercise hyperaemia. This suggests that PGE(2) released from muscle fibres and PGI(2) released from capillaries and venular endothelium by a fall in their local act extraluminally to dilate arterioles. Although modest hyperoxia attenuates exercise hyperaemia by improving O(2) supply, limiting the release of O(2)-dependent adenosine and PGs, higher O(2) concentrations may have adverse effects. Evidence is presented that breathing 100% O(2) limits exercise hyperaemia by generating O(2)(-), which inactivates nitric oxide and decreases PG synthesis.

cAMP/protein kinase A activates cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator for ATP release from rat skeletal muscle during low pH or contractions

We have shown that cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is involved in ATP release from skeletal muscle at low pH. These experiments investigate the signal transduction mechanism linking pH depression to CFTR activation and ATP release, and evaluate whether CFTR is involved in ATP release from contracting muscle. Lactic acid treatment elevated interstitial ATP of buffer-perfused muscle and extracellular ATP of L6 myocytes: this ATP release was abolished by the non-specific CFTR inhibitor, glibenclamide, or the specific CFTR inhibitor, CFTR_inh-172, suggesting that CFTR was involved, and by inhibition of lactic acid entry to cells, indicating that intracellular pH depression was required. Muscle contractions significantly elevated interstitial ATP, but CFTR_inh-172 abolished the increase. The cAMP/PKA pathway was involved in the signal transduction pathway for CFTR-regulated ATP release from muscle: forskolin increased CFTR phosphorylation and stimulated ATP release from muscle or myocytes; lactic acid increased intracellular cAMP, pCREB and PKA activity, whereas IBMX enhanced ATP release from myocytes. Inhibition of PKA with KT5720 abolished lactic-acid- or contraction-induced ATP release from muscle. Inhibition of either the Na⁺/H⁺-exchanger (NHE) with amiloride or the Na⁺/Ca²⁺-exchanger (NCX) with SN6 or KB-R7943 abolished lactic-acid- or contraction-induced release of ATP from muscle, suggesting that these exchange proteins may be involved in the activation of CFTR. Our data suggest that CFTR-regulated release contributes to ATP release from contracting muscle in vivo, and that cAMP and PKA are involved in the activation of CFTR during muscle contractions or acidosis; NHE and NCX may be involved in the signal transduction pathway.

Extracellular ATP-stimulated macrophages produce macrophage inflammatory protein-2 which is important for neutrophil migration

Macrophages are the major source of the chemokines macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC), which play a major role in neutrophil migration to sites of inflammation. Although extracellular ATP from inflammatory tissues induces several immune responses in macrophages, it is unclear whether ATP-stimulated macrophages affect neutrophil migration. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the role of ATP-induced MIP-2 production by macrophages. When ATP was injected intraperitoneally into mice, the number of neutrophils within the peritoneal cavity markedly increased, along with the levels of MIP-2 and KC in the peritoneal lavage fluid. Consistent with this, ATP induced MIP-2 production, but not that of KC, by peritoneal exudate macrophages (PEMs) in vitro. This occurred via interactions with the P2X(7) receptor and P2Y(2) receptor. Furthermore, treatment of PEMs with ATP led to the production of reactive oxygen species. The ATP-induced MIP-2 production was inhibited by treatment with the antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine. Also, MIP-2 production was inhibited by pre-incubating PEMs with inhibitors of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. The MIP-2 neutralization reduced the increase in neutrophil numbers observed in ATP-treated mice. Taken together, these results suggest that increased production of reactive oxygen species by ATP-stimulated macrophages activates the signalling pathways that promote MIP-2 production which, in turn, induces neutrophil migration.

Muscle afferent receptors engaged in augmented sympathetic responsiveness in peripheral artery disease

The exercise pressor reflex (EPR) is a neural control mechanism responsible for the cardiovascular responses to exercise. As exercise is initiated, thin fiber muscle afferent nerves are activated by mechanical and metabolic stimuli arising in the contracting muscles. This leads to reflex increases in arterial blood pressure (BP) and heart rate primarily through activation of sympathetic nerve activity (SNA). Studies of humans and animals have indicated that the EPR is exaggerated in a number of cardiovascular diseases. For the last several years, studies have specifically employed a rodent model to examine the mechanisms at receptor and cellular levels by which responses of SNA and BP to static exercise are heightened in peripheral artery disease (PAD), one of the most common cardiovascular disorders. A rat model of this disease has well been established. Specifically, femoral artery occlusion is used to study intermittent claudication that is observed in human PAD. The receptors on thin fiber muscle afferents that are engaged in this disease include transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1), purinergic P2X, and acid sensing ion channel (ASIC). The role played by nerve growth factor in regulating those sensory receptors in the processing of amplified EPR was also investigated. The purpose of this review is to focus on a theme namely that PAD accentuates autonomic reflex responses to exercise and further address regulatory mechanisms leading to abnormal sympathetic responsiveness. This review will present some of recent results in regard with several receptors in muscle sensory neurons in contribution to augmented autonomic reflex responses in PAD. Review of the findings from recent studies would lead to a better understanding in integrated processing of sympathetic nervous system in PAD.

Contribution of adenosine to compensatory dilation in hypoperfused contracting human muscles is independent of nitric oxide

We previously demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO) contributes to compensatory vasodilation in the contracting human forearm subjected to acute hypoperfusion. We examined the potential role of an adenosine-NO interaction to this response in 17 male subjects (25 ± 2 yr). In separate protocols subjects performed rhythmic forearm exercise (20% of maximum) while hypoperfusion was evoked by balloon inflation in the brachial artery above the elbow. Each trial included exercise before inflation, exercise with inflation, and exercise after deflation (3 min each). Forearm blood flow (FBF; ultrasound) and local [brachial artery catheter pressure (BAP)] and systemic [mean arterial pressure (MAP); Finometer] arterial pressure were measured. In protocol 1 (n = 10), exercise was repeated during nitric oxide synthase inhibition [N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA)] alone and during L-NMMA-aminophylline (adenosine receptor blockade) administration. In protocol 2, exercise was repeated during aminophylline alone and during aminophylline-L-NMMA. Forearm vascular conductance (FVC; ml·min(-1)·100 mmHg(-1)) was calculated from blood flow (ml/min) and BAP (mmHg). Percent recovery in FVC during inflation was calculated as (steady-state inflation + exercise value - nadir)/[steady-state exercise (control) value - nadir]. In protocol 1, percent recovery in FVC was 108 ± 8% during the control (no drug) trial. Percent recovery in FVC was attenuated with inhibition of NO formation alone (78 ± 9%; P < 0.01 vs. control) and was attenuated further with combined inhibition of NO and adenosine (58 ± 9%; P < 0.01 vs. L-NMMA). In protocol 2, percent recovery was reduced with adenosine receptor blockade (74 ± 11% vs. 113 ± 6%, P < 0.01) compared with control drug trials. Percent recovery in FVC was attenuated further with combined inhibition of adenosine and NO (48 ± 11%; P < 0.05 vs. aminophylline). Our data indicate that adenosine contributes to compensatory vasodilation in an NO-independent manner during exercise with acute hypoperfusion.

Interstitial and plasma adenosine stimulate nitric oxide and prostacyclin formation in human skeletal muscle

One major unresolved issue in muscle blood flow regulation is that of the role of circulating versus interstitial vasodilatory compounds. The present study determined adenosine-induced formation of NO and prostacyclin in the human muscle interstitium versus in femoral venous plasma to elucidate the interaction and importance of these vasodilators in the 2 compartments. To this end, we performed experiments on humans using microdialysis technique in skeletal muscle tissue, as well as the femoral vein, combined with experiments on cultures of microvascular endothelial versus skeletal muscle cells. In young healthy humans, microdialysate was collected at rest, during arterial infusion of adenosine, and during interstitial infusion of adenosine through microdialysis probes inserted into musculus vastus lateralis. Muscle interstitial NO and prostacyclin increased with arterial and interstitial infusion of adenosine. The addition of adenosine to skeletal muscle cells increased NO formation (fluorochrome 4-amino-5-methylamino-2',7-difluorescein fluorescence), whereas prostacyclin levels remained unchanged. The addition of adenosine to microvascular endothelial cells induced an increase in NO and prostacyclin levels. These findings provide novel insight into the role of adenosine in skeletal muscle blood flow regulation and vascular function by revealing that both interstitial and plasma adenosine have a stimulatory effect on NO and prostacyclin formation. In addition, both skeletal muscle and microvascular endothelial cells are potential mediators of adenosine-induced formation of NO in vivo, whereas only endothelial cells appear to play a role in adenosine-induced formation of prostacyclin.

Effects of maternal hypoxia on muscle vasodilatation evoked by acute systemic hypoxia in adult rat offspring: changed roles of adenosine and A1 receptors

Suboptimal conditions in utero can have long-lasting effects including increased risk of cardiovascular disease in adult life. Such programming effects may be induced by chronic systemic hypoxia in utero (CHU). We have investigated how CHU affects cardiovascular responses evoked by acute systemic hypoxia in adult male offspring, recognising that adenosine contributes to hypoxia-induced muscle vasodilatation and bradycardia by acting on A(1) receptors in normal (N) rats. In the present study, dams were housed in a hypoxic chamber at 12% O(2) for the second half of gestation; offspring were born and reared in air until 9-10 weeks of age. Under anaesthesia, acute systemic hypoxia (breathing 8% O(2) for 5 min) evoked similar biphasic tachycardia/bradycardia, fall in arterial pressure and increase in femoral vascular conductance (FVC) in N and CHU rats (+2.0 vs. +2.7 conductance units respectively). However, in CHU rats, neither the non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist 8-sulphophenyltheopylline (8-SPT), nor the A(1) receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX) affected the increase in FVC, but DPCPX attenuated the hypoxia-induced bradycardia. Further, in N and CHU rats, 5 min infusion of adenosine induced similar increases in FVC; in CHU rats, DPCPX reduced the adenosine-induced increase in FVC (by >50%) and accentuated the concomitant tachycardia. These results suggest that CHU rats have functional A(1) receptors in heart and vasculature, but the release and/or vasodilator influence of adenosine on the endothelium in acute hypoxia is attenuated and replaced by other dilator factors. Such changes from normal endothelial function may have implications for general cardiovascular regulation.

Involvement of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator in the acidosis-induced efflux of ATP from rat skeletal muscle

The present study was performed to investigate the effect of acidosis on the efflux of ATP from skeletal muscle. Infusion of lactic acid to the perfused hindlimb muscles of anaesthetised rats produced dose-dependent decreases in pH and increases in the interstitial ATP of extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle: 10 mM lactic acid reduced the venous pH from 7.22 ± 0.04 to 6.97 ± 0.02 and increased interstitial ATP from 38 ± 8 to 67 ± 11 nM. The increase in interstitial ATP was well-correlated with the decrease in pH (r(2) = 0.93; P < 0.05). Blockade of cellular uptake of lactic acid using α-cyano-hydroxycinnamic acid abolished the lactic acid-induced ATP release, whilst infusion of sodium lactate failed to depress pH or increase interstitial ATP, suggesting that intracellular pH depression, rather than lactate, stimulated the ATP efflux. Incubation of cultured skeletal myoblasts with 10 mM lactic acid significantly increased the accumulation of ATP in the bathing medium from 0.46 ± 0.06 to 0.76 ± 0.08 μM, confirming the skeletal muscle cells as the source of the released ATP. Acidosis-induced ATP efflux from the perfused muscle was abolished by CFTR(inh)-172, a specific inhibitor of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), or glibenclamide, an inhibitor of both K(ATP) channels and CFTR, but it was not affected by atractyloside, an inhibitor of the mitochondrial ATP transporter. Silencing of the CFTR gene using an siRNA abolished the acidosis-induced increase in ATP release from cultured myoblasts. CFTR expression on skeletal muscle cells was confirmed using immunostaining in the intact muscle and Western blotting in the cultured cells. These data suggest that depression of the intracellular pH of skeletal muscle cells stimulates ATP efflux, and that CFTR plays an important role in the release mechanism.

Analysis of interstitial concentrations of ATP from rat soleus muscle using microdialysis combined with ion-pairing high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)

In the present study, a method is described for the determination of ATP in small samples of interstitial fluid (< 100 microl) using microdialysis combined with ion-pairing high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in a gradient elution system which gives a clear separation of ATP from other interstitial constituents. Lactic acid infusion was performed to stimulate ATP to exit the cells to appear in the interstitial space. Microdialysis probe is used to in-vivo sample the molecules in the interstitial fluid. Interstitial ATP could be reliably detected at concentrations higher than 1x10(-9) M. The present study provides a simple, sensitive and selective assay for endogenous extracellular concentrations of ATP from rat soleus muscle.

Attenuated purinergic receptor function in patients with type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Extracellular nucleotides and nucleosides are involved in regulation of skeletal muscle blood flow. Diabetes induces cardiovascular dysregulation, but the extent to which the vasodilatatory capacity of nucleotides and nucleosides is affected in type 2 diabetes is unknown. The present study investigated 1) the vasodilatatory effect of ATP, uridine-triphosphate (UTP), and adenosine (ADO) and 2) the expression and distribution of P2Y(2) and P2X(1) receptors in skeletal muscles of diabetic subjects.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In 10 diabetic patients and 10 age-matched control subjects, leg blood flow (LBF) was measured during intrafemoral artery infusion of ATP, UTP, and ADO, eliciting a blood flow equal to knee-extensor exercise at 12 W (approximately 2.6 l/min).

RESULTS

The vasodilatatory effect of the purinergic system was 50% lower in the diabetic group as exemplified by an LBF increase of 274 +/- 37 vs. 143 +/- 26 ml/micromol ATP x kg, 494 +/- 80 vs. 234 +/- 39 ml/micromol UTP x kg, and 14.9 +/- 2.7 vs. 7.5 +/- 0.6 ml/micromol ADO x kg in control and diabetic subjects, respectively, thus making the vasodilator potency as follows: UTP control subjects (100) > ATP control subjects (55) > UTP diabetic subjects (47) > ATP diabetic subjects (29) > ADO control subjects (3) > ADO diabetic subjects (1.5). The distribution and mRNA expression of receptors were similar in the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The vasodilatatory effect of the purinergic system is severely reduced in type 2 diabetic patients. The potency of nucleotides varies with the following rank order: UTP > ATP > ADO. This is not due to alterations in receptor distribution and mRNA expression, but may be due to differences in receptor sensitivity.

Muscle interstitial ATP and norepinephrine concentrations in the human leg during exercise and ATP infusion

ATP has been proposed to play multiple roles in local skeletal muscle blood flow regulation by inducing vasodilation and modulating sympathetic vasoconstrictor activity, but the mechanisms remain unclear. Here we evaluated the effects of arterial ATP infusion and exercise on leg muscle interstitial ATP and norepinephrine (NE) concentrations to gain insight into the interstitial and intravascular mechanisms by which ATP causes muscle vasodilation and sympatholysis. Leg hemodynamics and muscle interstitial nucleotide and NE concentrations were measured during 1) femoral arterial ATP infusion (0.42 +/- 0.04 and 2.26 +/- 0.52 micromol/min; mean +/- SE) and 2) one-leg knee-extensor exercise (18 +/- 0 and 37 +/- 2 W) in 10 healthy men. Arterial ATP infusion and exercise increased leg blood flow (LBF) in the experimental leg from approximately 0.3 l/min at baseline to 4.2 +/- 0.3 and 4.6 +/- 0.5 l/min, respectively, whereas it was reduced or unchanged in the control leg. During arterial ATP infusion, muscle interstitial ATP, ADP, AMP, and adenosine concentrations remained unchanged in both legs, but muscle interstitial NE increased from approximately 5.9 nmol/l at baseline to 8.3 +/- 1.2 and 8.7 +/- 0.7 nmol/l in the experimental and control leg, respectively (P < 0.05), in parallel to a reduction in arterial pressure (P < 0.05). During exercise, however, interstitial ATP, ADP, AMP, and adenosine concentrations increased in the contracting muscle (P < 0.05), but not in inactive muscle, whereas interstitial NE concentrations increased similarly in both active and inactive muscles. These results suggest that the vasodilatory and sympatholytic effects of intraluminal ATP are mainly mediated via endothelial purinergic receptors. Intraluminal ATP and muscle contractions appear to modulate sympathetic nerve activity by inhibiting the effect of NE rather than blunting its local concentration.

Staphylococcus aureus synthesizes adenosine to escape host immune responses

Staphylococcus aureus infects hospitalized or healthy individuals and represents the most frequent cause of bacteremia, treatment of which is complicated by the emergence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus. We examined the ability of S. aureus to escape phagocytic clearance in blood and identified adenosine synthase A (AdsA), a cell wall–anchored enzyme that converts adenosine monophosphate to adenosine, as a critical virulence factor. Staphylococcal synthesis of adenosine in blood, escape from phagocytic clearance, and subsequent formation of organ abscesses were all dependent on adsA and could be rescued by an exogenous supply of adenosine. An AdsA homologue was identified in the anthrax pathogen, and adenosine synthesis also enabled escape of Bacillus anthracis from phagocytic clearance. Collectively, these results suggest that staphylococci and other bacterial pathogens exploit the immunomodulatory attributes of adenosine to escape host immune responses.

Adenosine contributes to blood flow regulation in the exercising human leg by increasing prostaglandin and nitric oxide formation

Adenosine can induce vasodilation in skeletal muscle, but to what extent adenosine exerts its effect via formation of other vasodilators and whether there is redundancy between adenosine and other vasodilators remain unclear. We tested the hypothesis that adenosine, prostaglandins, and NO act in synergy to regulate skeletal muscle hyperemia by determining the following: (1) the effect of adenosine receptor blockade on skeletal muscle exercise hyperemia with and without simultaneous inhibition of prostaglandins (indomethacin; 0.8 to 1.8 mg/min) and NO (N(G)-mono-methyl-l-arginine; 29 to 52 mg/min); (2) whether adenosine-induced vasodilation is mediated via formation of prostaglandins and/or NO; and (3) the femoral arterial and venous plasma adenosine concentrations during leg exercise with the microdialysis technique in a total of 24 healthy, male subjects. Inhibition of adenosine receptors (theophylline; 399+/-9 mg, mean +/- SEM) or combined inhibition of prostaglandins and NO formation inhibited the exercise-induced increase in leg blood flow by 14+/-1% and 29+/-2% (P<0.05), respectively, but combined inhibition of prostaglandins, NO, and adenosine receptors did not result in an additive reduction of leg blood flow (31+/-5%). Femoral arterial infusion of adenosine increased leg blood flow from approximately 0.3 to approximately 2.5 L/min. Inhibition of prostaglandins or NO, or prostaglandins and NO combined, inhibited the adenosine-induced increase in leg blood flow by 51+/-3%, 39+/-8%, and 66+/-8%, respectively (P<0.05). Arterial and venous plasma adenosine concentrations were similar at rest and during exercise. These results suggest that adenosine contributes to the regulation of skeletal muscle blood flow by stimulating prostaglandin and NO synthesis.

Nitric oxide (NO) does not contribute to the generation or action of adenosine during exercise hyperaemia in rat hindlimb

Exercise hyperaemia is partly mediated by adenosine A(2A)-receptors. Adenosine can evoke nitric oxide (NO) release via endothelial A(2A)-receptors, but the role for NO in exercise hyperaemia is controversial. We have investigated the contribution of NO to hyperaemia evoked by isometric twitch contractions in its own right and in interaction with adenosine. In three groups of anaesthetized rats the effect of A(2A)-receptor inhibition with ZM241385 on femoral vascular conductance (FVC) and hindlimb O(2) consumption at rest and during isometric twitch contractions (4 Hz) was tested (i) after NO synthase inhibition with l-NAME, and when FVC had been restored by infusion of (ii) an NO donor (SNAP) or (iii) cell-permeant cGMP. Exercise hyperaemia was significantly reduced (32%) by l-NAME and further significantly attenuated by ZM241385 (60% from control). After restoring FVC with SNAP or 8-bromo-cGMP, l-NAME did not affect exercise hyperaemia, but ZM241385 still significantly reduced the hyperaemia by 25%. There was no evidence that NO limited muscle during contraction. These results indicate that NO is not required for adenosine release during contraction and that adenosine released during contraction does not depend on new synthesis of NO to produce vasodilatation. They also substantiate our general hypothesis that the mechanisms by which adenosine contributes to muscle vasodilatation during systemic hypoxia and exercise are different: we propose that, during muscle contraction, adenosine is released from skeletal muscle fibres independently of NO and acts directly on A(2A)-receptors on the vascular smooth muscle to cause vasodilatation.

Elucidation in the rat of the role of adenosine and A2A-receptors in the hyperaemia of twitch and tetanic contractions

Adenosine is implicated in playing a role in blood flow responses to situations where O(2) delivery is reduced (hypoxia) or O(2) consumption is increased (exercise). Strong isometric contractions have been shown to limit vasodilatation, potentially leading to a greater mismatch between and than during twitch contractions. Thus, we hypothesized that adenosine makes a greater contribution to the hyperaemia associated with isometric tetanic than isometric twitch contractions and aimed to elucidate the adenosine-receptor subtypes involved in the response. In four groups of anaesthetized rats, arterial blood pressure (ABP), femoral blood flow (FBF) and tension in the extensor digitorum longus muscle were recorded; isometric twitch and tetanic contractions were evoked by stimulation of the sciatic nerve for 5 min at 4 Hz and 40 Hz, respectively. Groups 1 (twitch) and 3 (tetanic) were time controls for Groups 2 and 4, which received the selective A(2A)-receptor antagonist ZM241385 before the third and 8-sulphophenyltheophylline (8-SPT; a non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist) before the fourth contraction. Time controls showed consistent tension and hyperaemic responses: twitch and tetanic contractions were associated with a 3-fold and 2.5-fold increase in femoral vascular conductance (FVC, FBF/ABP) from baseline, respectively. ZM241385 reduced these responses by 14% and as much as 25%, respectively; 8-SPT had no further effect. We propose that, while twitch contractions produce a larger hyperaemia, adenosine acting via A(2A)-receptors plays a greater role in the hyperaemia associated with tetanic contraction. These results are considered in relation to the A(1)-receptor-mediated muscle dilatation evoked by systemic hypoxia.

Interstitial adenosine triphosphate modulates muscle afferent nerve-mediated pressor reflex

Previous work has shown that muscle contraction elevates interstitial adenosine triphosphate concentration ([ATP]i), which is likely due to the release of ATP from active skeletal muscle. ATP activation of purinergic receptors P2X on thin muscle afferent fibers further enhances cardiovascular responses to contraction. Thus, the purposes of this study were: (1) to examine the mechanisms by which ATP is released from muscle in response to mechanical stimulation; and (2) to study the effects of interstitial ATP concentrations on modulating pressor response to muscle contraction. Static contraction of the triceps surae muscle was evoked by electrical stimulation (at 5 HZ and 2.5 times motor threshold) of the tibial nerve in 9 anesthetized cats. Muscle interstitial ATP samples were collected from microdialysis probes inserted into the muscles. Dialysate ATP concentrations were determined using the luciferin-luciferase assay. In a control experiment, contraction was induced after 0.5 ml of saline was injected into the arterial blood supply of the hindlimb muscles. This increased [ATP]i by 220% (P < 0.05 vs. baseline). After gadolinium (1 mM), a blocker of mechanically sensitive channels, was injected into the muscles, contraction increased [ATP]i by 112% (P < 0.05 vs. control). In contrast, glibenclamide (an inhibitor of the ATP-binding cassette protein), monensin, and brefeldin A, which interfere with vesicular formation (or trafficking) and inhibit exocytosis, did not significantly affect ATP release by muscle contraction. In addition, a regression analysis showed that [ATP]i was linearly related to the pressor response to muscle contraction. The data suggest that ATP release from skeletal muscle is mediated via involvement of mechanosensitive channels. These findings further support a physiological role for release of ATP in modulating cardiovascular responses during static muscle contraction.

PPADS does not block contraction-induced prostaglandin E2 synthesis in cat skeletal muscle

Pyridoxal-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2'-4-disulfonate (PPADS), a purinergic 2 (P2) receptor antagonist, has been shown to attenuate the exercise pressor reflex in cats. In vitro, however, PPADS has been shown to block the production of prostaglandins, some of which play a role in evoking the exercise pressor reflex. Thus the possibility exists that PPADS blocks the exercise pressor reflex through a reduction in prostaglandin synthesis rather than through the blockade of P2 receptors. Using microdialysis, we collected interstitial fluid from skeletal muscle to determine prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) concentrations during the intermittent contraction of the triceps surae muscle before and after a popliteal arterial injection of PPADS (10 mg/kg). We found that the PGE2 concentration increased in response to the intermittent contraction before and after the injection of PPADS (both, P < 0.05). PPADS reduced the pressor response to exercise (P < 0.05) but had no effect on the magnitude of PGE2 production during contraction (P = 0.48). These experiments demonstrate that PPADS does not block the exercise pressor reflex through a reduction in PGE2 synthesis. We suggest that PGE2 and P2 receptors play independent roles in stimulating the exercise pressor reflex.

Activation of ATP/UTP-selective receptors increases blood flow and blunts sympathetic vasoconstriction in human skeletal muscle

Sympathetic vasoconstriction is blunted in the vascular beds of contracting skeletal muscle in humans, presumably due to the action of vasoactive metabolites (functional sympatholysis). Recently, we demonstrated that infusion of ATP into the arterial circulation of the resting human leg increases blood flow and concomitantly blunts alpha-adrenergic vasoconstriction in a similar manner to that during moderate exercise. Here we tested the hypothesis that ATP, rather than its dephosphorylated metabolites, induces vasodilatation and sympatholysis in resting skeletal muscle via activation of ATP/UTP-selective receptors. To this aim, we first measured leg blood flow (LBF), mean arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac output , leg arterial-venous (a-v) O(2) difference, plasma ATP and soluble nucleotidase activities during intrafemoral artery infusion of adenosine, AMP, ADP, ATP or UTP in nine healthy males. Comparison of the doses of nucleotides and adenosine required for a similar increase in LBF from approximately 0.5 l min(-1) at baseline to approximately 3.5 l min(-1) (without altering MAP but increasing Q significantly) revealed the following rank order of vasoactive potency: ATP (100) = UTP (100) >> adenosine (5.8) > ADP (2.7) > AMP (1.7). The infusions did not cause any shifts in plasma ATP level or soluble serum nucleotidase activities. Combined infusion of the vasodilatory compounds and the sympathetic vasoconstrictor drug tyramine increased plasma noradrenaline in all hyperaemic conditions, but only caused leg and systemic vasoconstriction and augmented O(2) extraction during adenosine, AMP and ADP infusion (LBF from 3.2 +/- 0.3 to 1.8 +/- 0.2 l min(-1); 3.7 +/- 0.4 to 1.7 +/- 0.2 l min(-1) and 3.3 +/- 0.4 to 2.4 +/- 0.3 l min(-1), respectively, P < 0.05). These findings in humans suggest that the vasodilatory and sympatholytic effects of exogenous ATP in the skeletal muscle vasculature are largely mediated via ATP itself rather than its dephosphorylated metabolites, most likely via binding to endothelial ATP/UTP-selective P2Y(2) receptors. These data are consistent with a role of ATP in skeletal muscle hyperaemia in conditions of increased sympathetic nerve drive such as exercise or hypoxia.

Purinergic regulation of neutrophil chemotaxis

Chemotaxis allows polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) to rapidly reach infected and inflamed sites. However, excessive influx of PMN damages host tissues. Better knowledge of the mechanisms that control PMN chemotaxis may lead to improved treatments of inflammatory diseases. Recent findings suggest that ATP and adenosine are involved in PMN chemotaxis. Therefore, these purinergic signaling processes may be suitable targets for novel therapeutic approaches to ameliorate host tissue damage.

The roles of adenosine and related substances in exercise hyperaemia

The role of adenosine in exercise hyperaemia has been controversial. Accumulating evidence now demonstrates that adenosine is released into the venous efflux of exercising muscle and that adenosine is responsible for 20-40% of the maintained phase of the muscle vasodilatation that accompanies submaximal and maximal contractions. This adenosine is mainly generated from AMP that is released from the skeletal muscle fibres and dephosphorylated by ecto 5'nucleotidase bound to the sarcolemma. During exercise, the concentration of ecto 5'nucleotidase may be increased by translocation from the cytosol, while release of AMP and affinity of ecto 5'nucleotidase for AMP are increased by acidosis. The adenosine so formed, acts on extraluminal A(2A) receptors on the vascular smooth muscle. In addition, ATP is released from red blood cells into the plasma during exercise, in association with the unloading of O(2) from haemoglobin, while ATP and adenosine may be released from endothelium as a consequence of local hypoxia. It is unlikely that this intraluminal ATP, or adenosine, contributes significantly to exercise hyperaemia, for muscle vasodilatation induced by intraluminal ATP or adenosine is strongly nitric oxide dependent, while vasodilatation induced by adenosine in hypoxia is mediated by A(1) receptors. Neither is a recognized feature of exercise hyperaemia.

Physiological roles of vascular nucleoside transporters

Nucleoside transporters (NTs) comprise 2 widely expressed families, the equilibrative nucleoside transporters (diffusion-limited channels) and concentrative nucleoside transporters (sodium-dependent transporters). Because of their anatomic position at the blood-tissue interface, vascular NTs are in an ideal position to influence vascular nucleoside levels, particularly adenosine, which among others plays an important role in tissue protection during acute injury. For example, endothelial NTs contribute to preserving the vascular integrity during conditions of limited oxygen availability (hypoxia). Indeed, hypoxia-inducible factor-1-dependent repression of NTs results in enhanced extracellular adenosine signaling and thus attenuates hypoxia-associated increases in vascular leakage. In addition, vascular NTs also contribute to cardiac ischemic preconditioning, coronary vasodilation, and inhibition of platelet aggregation. Moreover, vascular nucleoside uptake via NTs is important for nucleoside recovery, particularly in cells lacking de novo nucleotide synthesis pathways (erythrocytes, leukocytes). Taken together, vascular NTs are critical in modulating adenosine-mediated responses during conditions such as inflammation or hypoxia.

Influences of adenosine receptor antagonism on vasodilator responses to adenosine and exercise in adenosine responders and nonresponders

We previously demonstrated a bimodal distribution of vasodilator responsiveness to adenosine (Ado) infusion in human subjects, despite similar responses to exercise between subgroups [subjects responsive to Ado infusion (Ado responders) and subjects with blunted vasodilator responses to Ado infusion (Ado nonresponders]). (Martin EA, Nicholson WT, Eisenach JH, Charkoudian N, and Joyner MJ. J Appl Physiol 101: 492-499, 2006). A component of this difference was attributed to a larger nitric oxide component of Ado-mediated vasodilation in responders. However, there may also be differences in Ado receptors between these subgroups. We hypothesized that Ado receptor antagonism would reduce vasodilator responsiveness to Ado and exercise only in Ado responders. To test this hypothesis, we compared forearm vasodilation induced by intra-arterial infusion of three doses of Ado to vasodilation during three workloads of forearm handgrip exercise before and after Ado receptor antagonism with aminophylline (Aph) in 19 subjects. In Ado responders, the change in forearm vascular conductance above baseline for the low, medium, and high doses of Ado, respectively, was 93 +/- 16, 140 +/- 14, 194 +/- 18 before Aph and 27 +/- 12, 71 +/- 19, and 134 +/- 34 ml.min(-1).100 mmHg(-1) after Aph (P < 0.05 for low and medium dose before vs. after Aph). For nonresponders, these values were 30 +/- 5, 39 +/- 6, and 78 +/- 9 ml.min(-1).100 mmHg(-1) before Aph (P < 0.05 vs. responders), with no difference after Aph (P > 0.05). We found that Ado receptor blockade significantly inhibited exercise hyperemia only at high workloads in both responders and nonresponders (P < 0.05 before vs. after Aph). We conclude that there may be reduced Ado receptor responsiveness or sensitivity in nonresponders. Furthermore, Ado may play a limited role exercise hyperemia in both subgroups.

P2X receptor-mediated muscle pressor reflex in myocardial infarction

A previous report from this laboratory demonstrated that the ATP-sensitive P2X receptor-mediated muscle pressor reflex was augmented in rats with heart failure (HF). The purpose of this study was to better understand the underlying mechanisms for this greater response in HF rats. We examined 1) responsiveness of the P2X receptor to alpha,beta-methylene ATP (alpha,beta-me-ATP), a P2X receptor agonist, in control and HF rats induced by myocardial infarction (MI); 2) the relationship between P2X-induced blood pressure response and left ventricular (LV) function; and 3) the expression of P2X receptors in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of control rats and rats with HF. Eight to 14 wk after coronary artery ligation, the severity of the MI was determined by echocardiography. In the first group of the experiment, alpha,beta-me-ATP (0.0625, 0.125, 0.25, and 0.5 mM) was injected into the arterial blood supply of the hindlimb muscles to evoke a pressor response in 17 decerebrated rats (6 controls, 6 small MIs with infarcts of the LV between 10 and 35%, and 5 large MIs with infarcts >35%). The P2X agonist increased blood pressure, and the effect was significantly accentuated in large MI rats compared with small MI rats and control rats. A significant correlation was observed between alpha,beta-me-ATP-evoked pressor response and the LV fractional shortening, an index of LV function. In the second group of the experiment, immunocytochemistry was used to examine the immunoreactivity of P2X receptor in the DRG neurons of small diameter fibers in six healthy control rats, five small MI, and five large MI rats. The percentage of P2X immunostaining-positive neurons in the DRG was markedly greater in large MI rats (52% vs. 29% in controls and 34% in small MIs, P < 0.05). In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that 1) muscle afferent-mediated pressor response of P2X activation was exaggerated in MI animals, and the responsiveness was related to the degree of LV dysfunction; and 2) augmented reflex response was associated with upregulated P2X receptors in the DRG neurons of thin fiber afferent nerves following MI. The data suggest that P2X-mediated responsiveness in the processing of muscle afferent signals may have important implications for understanding cardiovascular responses to exercise in HF.

Physiological roles for ecto-5'-nucleotidase (CD73)

Nucleotides and nucleosides influence nearly every aspect of physiology and pathophysiology. Extracellular nucleotides are metabolized through regulated phosphohydrolysis by a series of ecto-nucleotidases. The formation of extracellular adenosine from adenosine 5’-monophosphate is accomplished primarily through ecto-5’-nucleotidase (CD73), a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol-linked membrane protein found on the surface of a variety of cell types. Recent in vivo studies implicating CD73 in a number of tissue protective mechanisms have provided new insight into its regulation and function and have generated considerable interest. Here, we review contributions of CD73 to cell and tissue stress responses, with a particular emphasis on physiologic responses to regulated CD73 expression and function, as well as new findings utilizing Cd73-deficient animals.

The role of adenosine in the early respiratory and cardiovascular changes evoked by chronic hypoxia in the rat

Experiments were performed on anaesthetized normoxic (N) rats and chronically hypoxic rats that had been exposed to 12% O2 for 1, 3 or 7 days (1, 3 or 7CH rats). The adenosine A1 receptor antagonist DPCPX did not affect the resting hyperventilation of 1-7CH rats breathing 12% O2 and increased resting heart rate (HR) in 1CH rats only. DPCPX partially restored the decreased baseline arterial pressure (ABP) and increased femoral vascular conductance (FVC) of 1 and 3CH rats, but had no effect in N or 7CH rats. DPCPX also attenuated the decrease in arterial blood pressure (ABP) and increase in FVC evoked by acute hypoxia in N and 1-7CH rats. The non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist 8-SPT had no further effect on baselines or cardiovascular responses to acute hypoxia, but attenuated the hypoxia-evoked increase in respiratory frequency in 1-7CH rats. In N, and 1 and 3CH rats, the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor aminoguanidine had no effect on baselines or increases in FVC evoked by acetylcholine. We propose: (i) that tonically released adenosine acting on A1 receptors reduces HR in 1CH rats and stimulates endothelial NOS in 1 and 3CH rats to decrease ABP and increase FVC, the remaining NO-dependent tonic vasodilatation being independent of iNOS activity; (ii) that in 7CH rats, tonic adenosine release has waned; (iii) that in 1-7CH rats, adenosine released by acute hypoxia stimulates A1 but not A2 receptors to produce muscle vasodilatation, and stimulates carotid body A2 receptors to increase respiration.

Measurement of free and bound fractions of extracellular ATP in biological solutions using bioluminescence

Measurement of extracellular ATP in biological solutions is complicated by protein-binding and rapid enzymatic degradation. We hypothesized that the concentration of extracellular ATP could be determined luminometrically by limiting degradation and measuring the free and protein-bound fractions. ATP was added (a) at constant concentration to solutions containing varying albumin concentrations; (b) at varying concentrations to a physiological albumin solution (4 gm/dL); (c) at varying concentrations to plasma. After centrifugation, a fraction of each supernatant was heated. ATP in heated and unheated samples was measured luminometrically. Blood was drawn into saline or an ATP-stabilizing solution and endogenous plasma ATP measured. ATP-albumin binding was a linear function of albumin concentration (3.5% ATP bound at 100 micromol/L to 33.2% ATP bound at 1000 micromol/L) but independent of ATP concentration (29.3%, 10-1000 nmol/L ATP in 602 micromol/L albumin). Heating released the majority of bound ATP from albumin-containing solutions (94.8 +/- 1.7%) and plasma (97.6 +/- 5.1%). Total endogenous plasma ATP comprised 93 +/- 27 nmol/L (free) and 150 +/- 40 nmol/L (total fraction). Without stabilizing solution, degradation of free endogenous plasma ATP occurred. Within a physiological range (10-1000 nmol/L), ATP binds albumin independently of ATP concentration. Heating releases bound ATP, enabling accurate luminometric measurement of total extracellular ATP (free and bound) in biological samples.

Bimodal distribution of vasodilator responsiveness to adenosine due to difference in nitric oxide contribution: implications for exercise hyperemia

To gain insight into the role of adenosine (Ado) in exercise hyperemia, we compared forearm vasodilation induced by intra-arterial infusion of three doses of Ado with vasodilation during three workloads of forearm handgrip exercise in 27 human subjects. We measured forearm blood flow (FBF) using Doppler ultrasound and mean arterial pressure (MAP) via brachial artery catheters and calculated forearm vascular conductance (FVC = FBF/MAP) during each infusion dose or workload. We found that about half of the subjects demonstrated robust vasodilator responsiveness to both Ado infusion and exercise, and the other half demonstrated blunted vasodilator responsiveness to Ado infusion compared with exercise. In 15 subjects (identified as "Ado responders"), the change in FVC above baseline was 209 +/- 33, 419 +/- 57, and 603 +/- 75 ml.min(-1).100 mmHg(-1) for the low, medium, and high doses of Ado, respectively, and 221 +/- 35, 413 +/- 54, and 582 +/- 70 ml.min(-1).100 mmHg(-1) for the low, medium, and high exercise workloads, respectively. In the other 12 subjects (identified as "Ado nonresponders"), the change in FVC above baseline was 102 +/- 36, 113 +/- 42, and 151 +/- 54 ml.min(-1).100 mmHg(-1) for the low, medium, and high doses of Ado, respectively (P < 0.05 vs. Ado responders), whereas exercise hyperemia was not different from Ado responders (P > 0.05). Furthermore, infusion of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) blunted vasodilator responses to Ado infusion only in Ado responders (P < 0.01 vs. post-L-NMMA) and had no effect on exercise in either group. We also found differences in vasodilator responses to isoproterenol at all doses, but acetylcholine only at one dose, between Ado responders and nonresponders. We conclude that vasodilator responsiveness to Ado exhibits a bimodal distribution among human subjects involving differences in the contribution of nitric oxide to Ado-mediated vasodilation. Finally, our data support the concept that neither Ado nor nitric oxide is obligatory for exercise hyperemia.

Leukocyte adherence inhibits adenosine-dependent venular control of arteriolar diameter and nitric oxide

Venular control of arteriolar perfusion has been the focus of several investigations in recent years. This study investigated 1) whether endogenous adenosine helps control venule-dependent arteriolar dilation and 2) whether venular leukocyte adherence limits this response via an oxidant-dependent mechanism in which nitric oxide (NO) levels are decreased. Intravital microscopy was used to assess changes in arteriolar diameters and NO levels in rat mesentery. The average resting diameter of arterioles (27.5 +/- 1.0 microm) paired with venules with minimal leukocyte adherence (2.1 +/- 0.3 per 100-microm length) was significantly larger than that of unpaired arterioles (24.5 +/- 0.8 microm) and arterioles (23.3 +/- 1.3 microm) paired with venules with higher leukocyte adherence (9.0 +/- 0.5 per 100-microm length). Local superfusion of adenosine deaminase (ADA) induced significant decreases in diameter and perivascular NO concentration in arterioles closely paired to venules with minimal leukocyte adherence. However, ADA had little effect on arterioles closely paired to venules with high leukocyte adherence or on unpaired arterioles. To determine whether the attenuated response to ADA for the high-adherence group was oxidant dependent, the responses were also observed in arterioles treated with 10(-4) M Tempol. In the high-adherence group, Tempol fully restored NO levels to those of the low-adherence group; however, the ADA-induced constriction remained attenuated, suggesting a possible role for an oxidant-independent vasoconstrictor released from the inflamed venules. These findings suggest that adenosine- and venule-dependent dilation of paired arterioles may be mediated, in part, by NO and inhibited by venular leukocyte adherence.

Temperature modulates P2X receptor-mediated cardiovascular responses to muscle afferent activation

Static muscle contraction increases ATP release into the muscle interstitial space. Elevated ATP in muscle stimulates thin fiber muscle afferents and increases blood pressure via engagement of purinergic P2X receptors. In addition, ATP activates P2X receptors and enhances cardiovascular responses induced by stimulation of muscle mechanoreceptors. In this study, we examined whether elevated muscle temperature would attenuate and whether reduced temperature would potentiate P2X effects on reflex muscle responses. alpha,beta-Methylene ATP (alpha,beta-MeATP) was injected into the arterial blood supply of hindlimb muscle to stimulate P2X receptors, and muscle stretch was induced to activate mechanically sensitive muscle afferents as alpha,beta-MeATP was injected in 10 anesthetized cats. Femoral arterial injection of alpha,beta-MeATP (1.0 mM) increased mean arterial pressure (MAP) by 35+/-5 (35 degrees C), 26+/-3 (37 degrees C), and 19+/-3 mmHg (39 degrees C; P<0.05 vs. 35 degrees C), respectively. Muscle stretch (2 kg) elevated MAP. The MAP response was significantly enhanced 34% and 36% when alpha,beta-MeATP (0.2 mM) was arterially infused 5 min before muscle stretch at 35 degrees and 37 degrees C, respectively. However, as muscle temperature reached 39 degrees C, the stretch-evoked response was augmented only 6% by alpha,beta-MeATP injection, and the response was significantly attenuated compared with the response with muscle temperature of 35 degrees and 37 degrees C. In addition, we also examined effects of muscle temperature on alpha,beta-MeATP enhancement of the cardiovascular responses to static muscle contraction while the muscles were freely perfused and the circulation to the muscles was occluded. Because muscle temperature was 37 degrees C, arterial injections of alpha,beta-MeATP significantly augmented contraction-evoked MAP response by 49% (freely perfused) and 53% (ischemic condition), respectively. It is noted that this effect was significantly attenuated at a muscle temperature of 39 degrees C. These data indicate that the effect of P2X receptor on reflex muscle response is sensitive to alternations of muscle temperature and that elevated temperature attenuates the response.

P2 antagonist PPADS attenuates responses of thin fiber afferents to static contraction and tendon stretch

Injection into the arterial supply of skeletal muscle of pyridoxal phosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonic acid (PPADS), a P2 receptor antagonist, has been shown previously to attenuate the reflex pressor responses to both static contraction and to tendon stretch. In decerebrated cats, we tested the hypothesis that PPADS attenuated the responses of groups III and IV muscle afferents to static contraction as well as to tendon stretch. We found that injection of PPADS (10 mg/kg) into the popliteal artery attenuated the responses of both group III (n = 16 cats) and group IV afferents (n = 14 cats) to static contraction. Specifically, static contraction before PPADS injection increased the discharge rate of the group III afferents from 0.1 +/- 0.05 to 1.6 +/- 0.5 impulses/s, whereas contraction after PPADS injection increased the discharge of the group III afferents from 0.2 +/- 0.1 to only 1.0 +/- 0.5 impulses/s (P < 0.05). Likewise, static contraction before PPADS injection increased the discharge rate of the group IV afferents from 0.3 +/- 0.1 to 1.0 +/- 0.3 impulses/s, whereas contraction after PPADS injection increased the discharge of the group IV afferents from 0.2 +/- 0.1 to only 0.3 +/- 0.1 impulses/s (P < 0.05). In addition, PPADS significantly attenuated the responses of group III afferents to tendon stretch but had no effect on the responses of group IV afferents. Our findings suggest that both groups III and IV afferents are responsible for evoking the purinergic component of the exercise pressor reflex, whereas only group III afferents are responsible for evoking the purinergic component of the muscle mechanoreflex that is evoked by tendon stretch.