5'-adenine mononucleotides in preparations from guinea pig cerebral cortex. Accumulation, translocation and release.

Isolated nerve terminals (synaptosome beds) were prepared from the neocortex of guinea pig and their ability to accumulate and release adenine nucleotides was studied. Synaptosome beds prelabelled with [14C]adenosine released newly synthesized [14C] adenine derivatives on superfusion. Electrical stimulation and K+ depolarization gave augmented output of both [14C] adenine derivatives and lactate from the preparations. Action of metabolic inhibitors on this output was examined. During incubation and superfusion, the synaptosomes displayed glycolysis and synthesis of ATP. Supply of adenine derivatives to the nerve terminals also occurred by translocation from other parts of the tissue.