Adenosine: does it have a neuroprotective role after all?

A neuroprotective role for adenosine is commonly assumed. Recent studies re vealed that adenosine may unexpectedly, under certain circumstances, have t he opposite effects contributing to neuronal damage and death. The basis fo r this duality may be the activation of distinct subtypes of adenosine rece ptors, interactions between these receptors, differential actions on neuron al and glial cells, and various time frames of adenosinergic compounds admi nistration. If these aspects are understood, adenosine should remain an int eresting target for therapeutical neuroprotective approaches after all. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.