Role of Cyclic Amp in Platelet Function : Evidence from Inhibition of Adenylate Cyclase in Intact Platelets by Adenosine Analogues

Abstract

Adenosine exerts independent stimulatory and inhibitory effects on the adenylate cyclase activity of platelet particulate fractions (Haslam & Lynham, 1972). Two adenosine analogues, 9-(tetrahydro-2-furyl) adenine (SQ 22536) and 2′, 5′-dideoxyadenosine (DDA) have now been found to show marked non-competitive inhibitory activities only. Basal and PGE1-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities were inhibited ~50% and ~70% respectively by 100 μM SQ 22536 and ~60% and ~80% respectively by 100 μM DDA. Both compounds also inhibited adenylate cyclase in intact platelets, when this was measured as the increase in cyclic [3H]AMP in platelets labelled with [3H] adenine and then incubated with papaverine. At the concentrations tested (10-500 μM), neither SQ 22536 nor DDA induced platelet aggregation or potentiated aggregation and release of [14C] 5-HT induced by suboptimal concentrations of ADP, Arg8-vasopressin, arachidonic acid or collagen added to heparinized or citrated platelet-rich plasma. However, both compounds partially blocked the inhibition by PGE1 or papaverine of aggregation induced by ADP or Arg8-vasopressin. From the concentrations exerting equal effects, DDA was ~3 times as potent in this regard as SQ 22536. Above 100 μM, the anti-inhibitory effects of both compounds decreased. The actions of these compounds in overcoming inhibition of aggregation by PGE1 were correlated with decreases in platelet cyclic [3H]AMP in platelets labelled with [3H] adenine. The results show that cyclic AMP plays no role in the responses of platelets to aggregating agents unless the platelet cyclic AMP level is elevated above the resting level and confirm that the effects of PGE1 on platelet function are mediated by cyclic AMP.