Exogenous adenosine has been shown to have potent electrophysiologic effects and antiarrhythmic properties within the atrioventricular (AV) node. Endogenous adenosine, a nucleoside with an increased release signaled by ischemia and hypoxia, is not believed to exert significant effects during homeostatic conditions. Recent experimental evidence suggests, however, that under normoxic conditions, the amount of adenosine released may be sufficient to mediate some of its physiologic effects. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that in humans the electrophysiologic effects of endogenously released adenosine on AV nodal conduction can be demonstrated under normoxic conditions by inhibiting uptake and degradation of the nucleoside. In the first protocol, the effects of intravenous dipyridamole (0.56 mg/kg bolus i.v., 5 micrograms/kg/minute infusion), a nucleoside-transport blocker that elevates endogenous plasma levels of adenosine, on AV nodal conduction were evaluated in seven patients. At a constant atrial paced cycle length, dipyridamole increased the AH interval from 110 +/- 19 to 164 +/- 26 msec, p = 0.002 (+/- SEM). Aminophylline (5.6 mg/kg i.v.), a competitive antagonist of adenosine, completely reversed the effects of dipyridamole on AV nodal conduction. Similarly, dipyridamole increased the cycle length at which pacing-induced AV nodal Wenckebach occurred, from 348 +/- 31 (control) to 388 +/- 33 msec (dipyridamole) (p = 0.002). In a second protocol, the effects of intravenous dipyridamole were evaluated in another group of six patients who had supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) in which the AV node was part of the reentrant circuit.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)