Adenine nucleotide degradation in ischemic rabbit lung tissue

The site and pathways of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) catabolism during ischemia were studied in isolated rabbit lung specimens. Results suggest endothelial cells as the site of ATP catabolism. The data gathered also suggested that dephosphorilation of adenosine monophosphate to adenosine as more critical to ATP catabolism than deamination to inosine monophosphate. Hypoxanthine has been identified as the more important catabolite compared to adenosine.