A2A Adenosine Receptor Reserve

Tissue distribution of adenosine receptors affects the physiologic response to adenosine receptor activation.1 The coronary arteries contain a relatively high density of A2A adenosine receptors, called a receptor reserve:

  • Activation of only a few receptors is needed to achieve maximal coronary vasodilation1
  • Adenosine receptor agonists such as Lexiscan can elicit a full and potent increase in intracoronary blood flow, even with a relatively low affinity for the A2A adenosine receptor2

Receptor Reserve

REFERENCES
1. Shryock JC, Snowdy S, Baraldi PG, et al. A2A-adenosine receptor reserve for coronary vasodilation. Circulation. 1998;98:711-718.
2. Gao Z, Li Z, Baker SP, et al. Novel short-acting A2A adenosine receptor agonists for coronary vasodilation: inverse relationship between affinity and duration of action of A2A agonists. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2001;298:209-218.

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