Abstract-The mechanism of the augmentation of adenosine action by 1, 4-bis-[3 (3, 4, 5-trimethoxybenzoyl-oxy)-propyl] perhydro-1, 4-diazepine (dilazep I, N, N,) and dipyridamole on the coronary vessel was examined in the dog. Cororary blood flow was measured by applying a Morawitz cannula to the in vivo heart. It was found that the ratio of coronary vasodilating activity of adenosine administered into saphenous vein, right atrium, and left atrium was 1: 1.5: 30, and that coronary vaso dilating actions of adenosine administered into saphenous vein, right atrium, and left atrium after dilazep (10 μg/kg, i.v.) were 15.6, 10.8, and 3.3 times greater than those without dilazep, respectively. After dipyridamole coronary vasodilating actions of adenosine administered into saphenous vein, right atrium, and left atrium were 17.5, 14.3, and 5.4 times greater. These results indicate that augmentation of coronary vasodilating action of intravenously administered adenosine by dilazep or dipyrida mole was mainly exerted at the lung and myocardium, and slightly in the blood, and was due to inhibition of the disappearance of adenosine.It is well known that there is a close relationship between coronary blood flow and myocardial metabolism (1); either an augmentation of the myocardial metabolism or hypoxia of the myocardium results in an increased coronary blood flow.Berne (2) has hypothesized that the metabolic regulation of coronary circulation is mediated by adenosine, which produces a powerful coronary vasodilation. Adenosine is always released in a small amount from the myocardium, and the amount of this adeno sine release is increased in a hypoxic condition (3, 4).Several long-acting coronary vasodilators (5,6,7,8,9,10,11) have been reported to enhance the coronary vascular response to adenosine, and the possible mechanism has been considered to he an inhibition of adenosine deaminase in the tissue (12), a blockade of the permeation of adenosine into erythrocytes (13) and vascular smooth muscle cells (14), and/or an inhibition of adenosine degradation in the lung (15).The objective of this study was to clarify the mechanism of the potentiation of adeno sine by certain long-acting vasodilators.
MATERIALS AND METHODSForty-six male dogs, weighing 10 to 13 kg, were used. One hr after s.c. administration of 3 mg/kg of morphine and I g/kg of urethane, these animals were anesthetized with 20 mg/kg ix. of sodium pentobarbital.An endotracheal tube was applied to each animal and