PROPENTOFYLLINE - A NUCLEOSIDE TRANSPORT INHIBITOR WITH NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECTS IN CEREBRAL-ISCHEMIA

1. Adenosine is an endogenous neuroprotective agent; stimulation of A( 1) receptors decreases excitatory amino acid neurotransmission and sti mulation of A(2) receptors inhibits platelet and neutrophil activation and promotes vasodilation. 2. Post-ischemic administration of propent ofylline (HWA 285) reduces neuronal damage in gerbils and improves glu cose metabolism in all regions of brain in acute stroke patients. 3. P ropentofylline inhibits the transport of adenosine into cultured cells and increases extracellular adenosine concentrations in ischemic brai n. Thus, enhanced stimulation of adenosine receptors may account for s ome of the neuroprotective effects of this compound. 4. Propentofyllin e inhibits free radical production by cultivated microglia cells, stim ulates nerve growth factor production and inhibits cAMP-phosphodiester ase activity. These effects may also be important for neuroprotection.