Effect of purine compounds on the vascular responsiveness of bovine coronary and lingual arteries.
The vascular effects of several purine compounds were evaluated using isolated arteries from bovine heart and tongue. At almost all concentrations tested, adenosine, AMP, ADP, ATP, guanosine, GMP, GDP and inosine produced significant relaxation of the lingual artery. In general, these compounds were much less effective in the coronary artery. Dipyridamole and nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR), compounds which block the cellular uptake of nucleosides, partially prevented the actions of these compounds in the lingual artery but not in the coronary artery. Erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl) adenine (EHNA), a potent inhibitor of adenosine deaminase also altered the relaxant effect of adenosine. These results suggest that at least part of the action of purine compounds on the vascular smooth muscle of the lingual artery is a result of an intracellular effect.