['Stimulation of A3 adenosine receptors has been shown to protect cardiac myocytes from ischemic injury, but the mechanism of this action is unknown. We evaluated the effect of adenosine agonists and antagonists on the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+) channels.', 'Isolated rat hearts were perfused with control buffer or different adenosine agonists and antagonists. Hearts were then homogenized and used to determine SR Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release, assayed by quick filtration technique after loading with 45Ca(2+), and the binding of [3H]ryanodine, a specific ligand of the SR Ca(2+) release channel. In parallel experiments, hearts were challenged with 30 min of global ischemia and 120 min of reperfusion, and the extent of tissue necrosis was evaluated by triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining.', 'Perfusion with the A1>A3 agonist R-PIA and the A3>A1 agonist IB-MECA was associated with reduced [3H]ryanodine binding, due to reduced B(max) (by about 20%), whereas K(d) and Ca(2+)-dependence of the binding reaction were unaffected. These actions were abolished by the A3 antagonist MRS 1191, while they were not affected by A1 and A2 antagonists. The rate constant of SR Ca(2+) release decreased by 25-30% in hearts perfused with R-PIA or IB-MECA. Tissue necrosis was significantly reduced in the presence of R-PIA or IB-MECA. Protection was removed by MRS 1191, and it was not affected by A1 and A2 antagonists. Hearts were also protected by administration of dantrolene, a ryanodine receptor antagonist. In the presence of dantrolene, no further protection was provided by IB-MECA.'] Does a3 adenosine receptor stimulation modulate sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca ( 2+ ) release in rat heart?