Adenosine A3-receptor stimulation attenuates postischemic dysfunction through KATP channels
We tested the hypothesis that selective adenosine A3-receptor stimulation reduces postischemic contractile dysfunction through activation of ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels. Isolated, buffer-perfused rat hearts ( n = 8/group) were not drug pretreated (control) or were pretreated with adenosine (20 μM), 2-chloro- N 6-(3-iodobenzyl)-adenosine-5′- N-methyluronamide (Cl-IB-MECA; A3 agonist, 100 nM), Cl-IB-MECA + 8-(3-noradamantyl)-1,3-dipropylxanthine (KW-3902; A1 antagonist, 5 μM), Cl-IB-MECA + glibenclamide (Glib; KATP-channel blocker, 0.3 μM), or Glib alone for 12 min before 30 min of global normothermic ischemia followed by 2 h of reperfusion. After 2 h of reperfusion, left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP, %baseline) in control hearts was depressed to 34 ± 2%. In hearts pretreated with Cl-IB-MECA, there was a statistically significant increase in LVDP (50 ± 6%), which was reversed with coadministration of Glib (37 ± 1%). Control hearts also showed similar decreases in left ventricular peak positive rate of change in pressure (dP/d t). Therefore, the A3 agonist significantly attenuated postischemic cardiodynamic injury compared with the control, which was reversed by Glib. Cumulative creatine kinase (CK in U/min) activity was most pronounced in the control group (10.4 ± 0.6) and was significantly decreased by Cl-IB-MECA (7.5 ± 0.4), which was reversed by coadministration of Glib (9.4 ± 0.2). Coronary flow was increased during adenosine infusion (160% of baseline) but not during Cl-IB-MECA infusion. Effects of Cl-IB-MECA were not reversed by the specific A1 antagonist KW-3902. We conclude that cardioprotection afforded by A3-receptor stimulation may be mediated in part by KATP channels. Cl-IB-MECA may be an effective pretreatment agent that attenuates postischemic cardiodynamic dysfunction and CK release without the vasodilator liability of other adenosine agonists.