FOUR SUBTYPES OF ADENOSINE RECEPTORS (A1, A2A, A2B, and A3 receptors) are known to exist (26). Traditionally, the A1-adenosine receptor has been thought to be the only subtype expressed in ventricular cardiomyocytes. By inhibiting adenylyl cyclase, the A1 receptor attenuates the positive inotropic effect of b-adrenergic receptor stimulation (or other interventions that stimulate adenylyl cyclas...

In the absence of efficient disease-modifying treatments for Parkinson’s disease (PD), research has focused on identifying potential environmental factors whose modulation may prevent or slow progression this neurodegenerative disorder. Compelling epidemiological evidence suggests that caffeine consumption is inversely associated with risk developing PD. Further experimental findings demonstrat...

Clinical studies implicate adenosine acting on esophageal nociceptive pathways in the pathogenesis of noncardiac chest pain originating from the esophagus. However, the effect of adenosine on esophageal afferent nerve subtypes is incompletely understood. We addressed the hypothesis that adenosine selectively activates esophageal nociceptors. Whole cell perforated patch-clamp recordings and sing...

The purine adenosine plays an important role in a number of physiological and pathological processes and is neuroprotective during hypoxia and ischemia. The major effect of adenosine is to suppress network activity via the activation of A(1) receptors. Here we report that in immature cerebellar slices, the activation of A(1) receptors has variable effects on parallel fibre synaptic transmission...

Adenosine, via interaction with A1 adenosine receptors, increases insulin sensitivity and inhibits lipolysis in adipocytes. To investigate regulation of this system, adipocytes were incubated for up to 72 h with the nonmetabolizable adenosine receptor agonist, N6-phenylisopropyl adenosine (PIA). Adenosine receptors were measured by the binding of 125I-hydroxyphenylisopropyl adenosine to membran...