Introductory Remarks: Adenosine A2A Receptor Antagonists: A Novel Approach to the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the current status of research on the adenosine A 2A receptor and its selective antagonists and at the same time, explains the use of A 2A receptor antagonists as a new symptomatic approach toward the treatment of Parkinson's disease. It also covers the current knowledge of the adenosine receptors in the brain and periphery along with their selective agonists and antagonists. Over the years, reports on possible functional roles for adenosine in the nervous system have increased in number, with adenosine being implicated in epilepsy, cerebral ischemic preconditioning, sleep as well as the immune reactions within the brain. This chapter also discusses the functional role of this receptor in the striatum and the mechanism of action of its antagonists in models of Parkinson's disease. The intracellular signal transduction pathways of the adenosine receptor subtypes and the effects of the antagonists on these are also evaluated and reviewed. Adenosine A 2A receptor antagonists provide a new direction in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.