The coupling of the human coronary adenosine receptor to a G protein was investigated in vitro. Hearts were obtained from accidental death victims and the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was taken for experimentation. Cholera toxin (CT) and pertussis toxin (PT) ADP-ribosylated proteins with Mr of 45, 49 (CT), and 41 (PT) kDa. Both processes were sensitive to GTP gamma S. In LAD rings contracted with KCl, adenosine (ADO) and its analogs 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) and 2-chloroadenosine (CAD) produced concentration-dependent relaxation. These concentration-response curves were shifted to the right significantly in the presence of the competitive ADO receptor antagonist, 8-phenyltheophylline (8-PT), indicating the involvement of ADO receptors. Treatment with NaF/AlCl3, which uncouples G protein-mediated responses, caused significant attenuation of the relaxation responses to ADO, NECA, and CAD. When the rings were incubated with CT, there was an attenuation of the relaxations produced by ADO, CAD, NECA, and isoproterenol (ISOP). Incubation with PT resulted in significant inhibition of the relaxations induced by ADO, NECA, and CAD. The results provide evidence for the presence of CT- and PT-sensitive G protein(s) subserving the relaxing adenosine receptors in human coronary artery.