Forskolin and phosphodiesterase inhibitors release adenosine but inhibit morphine-evoked release of adenosine from spinal cord synaptosomes

The effects of forskolin, Ro 20-1724, rolipram, and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) on morphine-evoked release of adenosine from dorsal spinal cord synaptosomes were evaluated to examine the potential involvement of cyclic AMP in this action of morphine. Ro 20-1724 (1–100 μM), rolipram (1–100 μM), and forskolin (1–10 μM) increased basal release of adenosine, and at 1 μM inhibited morphine-evoked release of adenosine. Release of adenosine by Ro 20-1724, rolipram, and forskolin was reduced 42–77% in the presence of α, β-methylene ADP and GMP, which inhibits ecto-5′-nucleotidase activity by 81%, indicating that this adenosine originated predominantly as nucleotide(s). Significant amounts of adenosine also were released from the ventral spinal cord by these agents. Ro 20-1724 and rolipram did not significantly alter the uptake of adenosine into synaptosomes. Although Ro 20-1724 and rolipram had only limited effects on the extrasynaptosomal conversion of added cyclic AMP to adenosine, IBMX, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor with a broader spectrum of inhibitory activity for phosphodiesterase isoenzymes, significantly inhibited the conversion of cyclic AMP to adenosine and resulted in recovery of a substantial amount of cyclic AMP. As with the non-xanthine phosphodiesterase inhibitors, IBMX increased basal release of adenosine and reduced morphine-evoked release of adenosine. Adenosine released by IBMX was reduced 70% in the presence of α, β-methylene ADP and GMP, and release from the ventral spinal cord was 61% of that from the dorsal spinal cord. Collectively, these results indicate that forskolin and phosphodiesterase inhibitors release nucleotide(s) which is (are) converted extrasynaptosomally to adenosine. For forskolin, Ro 20-1724, and rolipram, the nucleotide released could be cyclic AMP. Morphine releases adenosine per se, and forskolin and phosphodiesterase inhibitors reduce this release. The lack of increase in the action of morphine with phosphodiesterase inhibitors in particular does not support a role for stimulation of cyclic AMP production by morphine in the release of adenosine. The reduction in morphine-evoked release of adenosine by forskolin and phosphodiesterase inhibitors suggests either (a) that a reduction in cyclic levels by morphine promotes adenosine release, or (b) that cyclic AMP interferes with the release process.Key words: forskolin, Ro 20-1724, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, cyclic AMP, morphine, adenosine release, spinal cord.