Prejunctional autoinhibition of purinergic transmission in circular muscle of guinea-pig ileum; a mechanism distinct from P1-purinoceptor activation.

The role of prejunctional purinoceptors (P1-subtype) in the control of ATP-release from inhibitory motoneurons was investigated electrophysiologically, by studying fast purinergic inhibitory junction potentials (IJPs) in guinea-pig ileal circular muscle. Pressure ejections of adenosine and ATP (but not of alpha,beta-methylene ATP) onto circular muscle depressed the amplitude of fast IJPs, indicating the presence of prejunctional P1-purinoceptors. An adenosine (A1/2)-receptor antagonist, theophylline (10(-8)-10(-4) M), increased the amplitude of fast IJPs in a dose-related manner (EC50 = 17.5 microM), suggesting the existence of a basal 'adenosine tone' that regulated ATP-release from ileal motoneurons. However, three methylxanthine derivatives, caffeine (10(-8)-10(-4) M), 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX; 10(-8)-10(-4) M) and the potent A1-receptor antagonist 1,3-dipropyl-8-(2-amino-4-chlorophenyl)-xanthine (DPCPX; 10(-8)-10(-4) M), failed to potentiate fast IJPs and placed in doubt the existence of this inhibitory adenosine tone. Caffeine and IBMX, but not DCPCX, hyperpolarised ileal circular muscle in a dose-related manner and reduced IJP-amplitude; DPCPX did not alter the amplitude of IJPs. The non-specific inhibitor of phosphodiesterases, Ro-20-1724 (5 x 10(-7)-5 x 10(-5) M), increased the amplitude of fast IJPs, mimicking the actions of theophylline. To this extent, facilitation of inhibitory transmission appeared to involve phosphodiesterase inhibition and modification of intra-axonal cAMP levels and phosphorylation of intra-axonal protein kinases. The phenomenon of IJP rundown, presumed to be a manifestation of prejunctional autoinhibition, was studied using theophylline and DPCPX as A1-receptor antagonists.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)