title: Modification of adenosine modulation of acetylcholine release in the hippocampus of aged rats.
abstract: Adenosine is a neuromodulator acting through inhibitory A(1) receptors (A(1)Rs) and facilitatory A(2A)Rs. Since A(2A)R antagonists attenuate memory deficits in aged animals and memory deficits might involve a decreased cholinergic function, we investigated how aging affects the density and function of adenosine receptors in rat hippocampal cholinergic terminals. In young adult (2 months) rats, 64 and 36% of cholinergic terminals (immunopositive for vesicular ACh transporters) possessed A(1)Rs and A(2A)Rs, respectively. In aged (24 months) rats, the percentage of cholinergic terminals with A(1)Rs was preserved, whereas that with A(2A)Rs was larger (49%). In young adults adenosine only tonically inhibited ACh release through A(1)Rs, whereas in aged rats there was a greater A(1)R-mediated inhibition and a simultaneous A(2A)R-mediated facilitation of ACh release. Thus, the enhanced A(2A)R density and facilitation compensates for the greater tonic A(1)R modulation, preserving the global adenosine modulation of ACh release in aged rats. Furthermore, since A(2A)R antagonists inhibit ACh release, the beneficial effects of A(2A)R antagonists on memory in aged rats might not result from ACh release modulation.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuroscience of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ricardo J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Paula M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Canas
authors.forename: Luísa V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Catarina R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Rodrigo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cunha
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000241:Adenosine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D058907:Adenosine A1 Receptor Agonists; D058916:Adenosine A1 Receptor Antagonists; D058908:Adenosine A2 Receptor Agonists; D058917:Adenosine A2 Receptor Antagonists; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D043682:Receptor, Adenosine A1 / Q000378:metabolism; D043705:Receptor, Adenosine A2A / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D050494:Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D058907:Adenosine A1 Receptor Agonists; D058916:Adenosine A1 Receptor Antagonists; D058908:Adenosine A2 Receptor Agonists; D058917:Adenosine A2 Receptor Antagonists; D043682:Receptor, Adenosine A1; D043705:Receptor, Adenosine A2A; C493461:Slc18a3 protein, rat; D050494:Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins; D000241:Adenosine; D000109:Acetylcholine