The endogenous nucleoside adenosine can induce various cardiovascular and neurohumoral effects by stimulation of specific adenosine receptors. taken together these effects protect against ischaemia-reperfusion injury of (myocardial)muscles and agsinst the development of atherosclerosis. Genetic variations in genes encoding for adenosine receptors or for enzymes involved in the formation or breakdown of adenosine could potentially modulate these effects. In this study, we aim to determine the functional effects of two frequent genetic polymorphisms in the adenosine receptor and AMPdeaminase (involved in the formation of adenosine) on the vascular effects of adenosine.