Research Overview Adenosine Receptor Interactions in the Hippocampus

ABSTRACT Adenosine receptors are involved in interactions with receptors for other neurotransmittersand/or neuromodulators. This opens novel possibilities for the action of this nucleoside. Either throughdirect receptor–receptor modulation or beyond the receptor level (PKA, PKC, or calcium channels), it ap-pears that to protect the cells from insult adenosine moves around to use as many several receptor systemsas possible, namely, receptors for neuropeptides (CGRP and VIP), ionotropic (NMDA) and metabotropic(mGlur I and III) glutamate receptors, GABA, and nicotinic autofacilitatory, muscarinic, and dopamine re-ceptors. With these, adenosine might synchronize or desynchronize synaptic transmission in order to fine-tune the nervous system. Drug Dev. Res. 52:337–345, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Key words: adenosine A 2A receptor; neuropeptides; glutamate receptors; dopamine receptors; acetylcholine receptorsStrategy, Management and Health PolicyVenture CapitalEnablingTechnologyPreclinicalResearchPreclinical DevelopmentToxicology, FormulationDrug Delivery,PharmacokineticsClinical DevelopmentPhases I-IIIRegulatory, Quality,ManufacturingPostmarketingPhase IV