The role of adenosine in the pathogenesis of angina pectoris [RUOLO DELL'ADENOSINA NELLA PATOGENESI DEL DOLORE ANGINOSO]

Adenosine released during myocardial ischemia is an adequate stimulus to stimulate cardiac nociceptors and to cause anginal pain. This conclusion is supported by hbe following arguments: the similarity of the adenosine-induced pain and angina pectoris with respect to quality, location and irradiation, the attenuation of adenosine-induced pain and of exercise-induced pain by adenosine receptor antagonists and the direct provocation of anginal pain by selective intracoronary infusion of adenosine. Finally, the reduction of adenosine-induced pain and of exercise-induced angina by the selective A1 adenosine receptor antagonist bamiphylline, suggests that A1 receptors are involved in the pathogenesis of adenosine-induced pain.