PROPENTOSYLLINE DEPRESSES AMYLOID AND ALZHEIMERS CSF MICROGLIAL ANTIGENS AFTER ISCHEMIA

IN the gerbil hippocampus activated microglial antigens are intensely stained by cerebrospinal fluid from patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD-CSF), OXl8 and the amyloid precursor protein (beta-APP) up to 14 d ays after ischaemia. Propentosylline (PPF), which facilitates the aden osine A2 receptor action, has been shown to be neuroprotective, to dep ress O-2(-) radical formation in macrophages and to interfere with the generation of phagocytotic macrophages from cultivated microglial cel ls. In this report we tested in ischaemic gerbils whether PPF treatmen t influences the potential neurotoxic properties of microglia. Daily p ost-treatment with PPF, started 24 h after ischaemia, depressed the im munostaining of activated microglia by AD-CSF, OX18 and APP in the hip pocampus. Thus, PPF may protect against microglia-related brain damage .