functional evidence for adenosine a2 receptor regulation of phosphatidylcholine secretion in cultured type ii pneumocytes we examined the effects of p1 purinoceptor agonists on secretion of phosphatidylcholine in primary cultures of rat type ii pneumocytes adenosine and its nonmetabolizable analogs 5nethylcarboxyamidoadenosine neca n6phenylisopropyladenosine pia and 2chloroadenosine increased secretion and this effect was dependent on concentration at the highest concentration all agonists stimulated phosphatidylcholine secretion approximately 2fold neca with an ec50 of 89 x 108 m was the most potent agonist the order of potency was neca greater than 2chloroadenosine lpia greater than or equal to adenosine greater than dpia the stimulatory effect of 106 m neca was diminished by the p1 antagonists theophylline and 8phenyltheophylline the degree of stimulation by the adenosine analogs as well as its time course was the same as that induced by terbutaline the effects of the adenosine analogs and of terbutaline were not additive suggesting a similar mode of action for the beta adrenergic and purinoceptor agonists terbutaline and the adenosine analogs increased intracellular cyclic amp levels again neca was the most potent adenosine analog for neca lpia and adenosine there was a significant correlation between effects on secretion and on cyclic amp content these data suggest that the effect of adenosine on phosphatidylcholine secretion in type ii pneumocytes is mediated by the a2 subtype of the p1 purinoceptor