A NOVEL ACTION FOR ADENOSINE - APOPTOSIS OF ASTROGLIAL CELLS IN RAT-BRAIN PRIMARY CULTURES

2-chloro-adenosine induced apoptosis of astroglial cells in rat brain cultures, as shown by flow cytometry and morphological analysis. The a denosine analogue was far more potent than several previously characte rized sugars (including 2-deoxy-D-ribose and D-ribose, the sugar moiet y of 2-chloro-adenosine), which trigger apoptosis in a variety of cell -lines [8-10], suggesting that the effects of 2-chloro-adenosine are o nly partially dictated by its sugar moiety. Nevertheless, 2-chloro-ade nosine and 2-deoxy-D-ribose attenuated each other's cell death when us ed in combination, suggesting the involvement of common intracellular mechanisms. It is suggested that 2-chloro-adenosine may induce apoptos is via a yet-to-be identified adenosine receptor, which may have intri guing implications for both nervous system development and brain respo nse to trauma and ischemia. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.