The Role of Striatal Adenosine A2A Receptors in Motor Control of Rats

It is well known that adenosine and ATP play a central role in the energy metabolism of all organisms. However, adenosine is also an important endogenous modulator which is involved in the regulation of numerous physiological processes. It is released in part from metabolically active cells by facilitated diffusion. In addition, adenosine is generated in the extracellular space by rapid and quantitative ectoenzymatic degradation of released ATP.1