ADENOSINE-ANALOGS MODULATE THE INCIDENCE OF SLEEP APNEAS IN RATS

The effects of adenosine A(1) and A(2) agonists on spontaneous central sleep apneas in rats have been examined by simultaneously monitoring sleep and respiration in freely moving unanesthetized animals. Intrape ritoneal administration of 1.0 mg/kg of the A(1) receptor agonist R(-) N-6-L-(2-phenyl-isopropyl)adenosine (L-PIA) and 150 and 300 mu g/kg of hyl)phenethylamino-5'-N-ethylcarboxamido-adenosine hydrochloride (CGS 21680), a selective A(2) agonist, decreased the apnea index (AI) duri ng sleep. Within a sleep period, AI increased over time in both contro l and drug-treated animals. For both agonists, doses effective in redu cing AI also significantly reduced sleep efficiency.