The remarkably comprehensive qualitative description of the cardiovasc
ular actions of adenosine by Drury and Szent-Gyorgyi [(1929): J Physio
l 6:213-237] serves as a framework for current research on the cellula
r and molecular mechanisms of those actions. This article reviews eigh
t areas in this field that have advanced significantly during the past
5 years: (1) the kinds of potassium channels coupled to the cardiomyo
cyte A(1)AR; (2) the mechanism of the ''anti-adrenergic'' action of ad
enosine; (3) the role of adenosine in angina pectoris; (4) the role of
adenosine in ischemic preconditioning; (5) the occurrence of A(2)AR i
n ventricular myocytes; (6) evidence for A(1)-, A(2)A-, A(2B)- and A(3
)ARs in blood vessels; (7) the role of nitric oxide in adenosine-initi
ated vasodilation; and (8) the effect of adenosine on microvascular pe
rmeability. In some areas, solid evidence has defined a particular mec
hanism; in others, the evidence is as yet incomplete. (C) 1997 Wiley-L
iss, Inc.