ADENOSINE-INDUCED RELEASE OF NITRIC-OXIDE FROM CORTICAL ASTROCYTES

NITRIC oxide (NO) and adenosine are involved in coincident CNS functio ns, including long-term potentiation, neuronal protection, neurotoxici ty and cerebral blood flow. We tested the hypothesis that glia may act as a cellular link between the two, through adenosine-induced NO rele ase from astrocytes. A direct NO measuring system was used, allowing t he kinetics of NO release to be measured. Our results show that adenos ine, acting through purinoceptors, causes NO release from cultured cor tical astrocytes. Mobilization of calcium from intracellular stores ra ther than influx is involved in the adenosine-induced activation of NO synthase. These results demonstrate a possible interaction between ad enosine and NO in cerebrovascular physiology and neurotoxicity.