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
.