Ischaemic damage in gerbil hippocampus is reduced following upregulation of adenosine (A1) receptors by caffeine treatment.
We have used the fact that long-term caffeine treatment upregulates the adenosine receptors, to examine the role of adenosine in ischaemia. Four-week oral treatment with caffeine (0.2% in drinking water) caused a significant (10-17%) increase in the binding of the adenosine A1-receptor ligand [3H]cyclohexyl-adenosine (CHA) to several brain regions, including the hippocampal CA1 area, in Mongolian gerbils. Animals subjected to such treatment exhibited significantly less neuronal damage in the CA1 region following 5 min bilateral carotid occlusion than did control animals (50% of the caffeine-treated animals showed no damage at all compared to 11% in the control group). Our findings provide further evidence for a protective role of endogenous adenosine during ischaemia.
Rudolphi
K A
KA
Hoechst AG Werk Kalle-Albert, Wiesbaden, F.R.G.
Keil
M
M
Fastbom
J
J
Fredholm
B B
BB
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005849:Gerbillinae; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects; D007511:Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011983:Receptors, Purinergic / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
D011983:Receptors, Purinergic; D002110:Caffeine