Adenosine as a neuroprotectant: therapeutic perspectives

Abstract

The potential for exploiting the neuroprotective properties of the purine nucleoside, adenosine, in a variety of CNS disorders, including: ischemic and traumatic injuries, neurodegenerative disorders, epilepsy and pain, has aroused considerable interest in both academic and pharmaceutical circles. A variety of approaches have been employed, ranging from the development of new selective agonists and antagonists for adenosine receptors, to compounds which can either potentiate extracellular levels of endogenously released adenosine or enhance its actions at receptors. Although many of these approaches were successful in animal studies, clinical trials have been delayed by the need to develop more potent and selective agents. With the recent promising advances in this area, future prospects for the development of new neurotherapeutic agents now appear promising.

• adenosine
• cerebral ischemia
• epilepsy
• neurodegenerative diseases
• neuroprotection
• neurotrauma
• pain