The effects of adenosine triphosphate and adenosine diphosphate on transmission at the rat and frog neuromuscular junctions

Abstract

1 The effects of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) were investigated on evoked end-plate potentials (e.p.ps) and on miniature end-plate potentials (min. e.p.ps) recorded from muscle fibres of the rat diaphragm and the frog sartorius.2 ATP and ADP decreased the quantum content of the e.p.ps and the frequency of the min. e.p.ps. The maximum effects produced by the two substances were similar.3 The potency of ATP was found to be similar to that of adenosine. In the presence of adenosine, in a concentration producing its maximum effect, the addition of ATP had no further effect. This is compatible with the idea that ATP acts in the same way as adenosine.