Adenosine in exercise adaptation.

Abstract

By influencing the regulation of the mechanisms of angiogenesis, erythropoietin production, blood flow, myocardial glucose uptake, glycogenolysis, systolic blood pressure, respiration, plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine levels, adenosine may exert a significant effect on the body's adaptation response to exercise. However, adenosine's possible influence over the vasodilatory response to exercise in skeletal muscle is controversial and more research is required to resolve this issue. Various popular exercise training methods, such as cyclic training, interval training, and the 'warm down' from training may increase adenosine levels and thereby might enhance the response of adenosine-influenced adaptive mechanisms. Among the several classes of drugs which may enhance extracellular adenosine levels and thereby might augment adenosine-influenced adaptive mechanisms, are the anabolic steroidal and some readily available non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).