SCH 58261 (an adenosine A(2A) receptor antagonist) reduces, only at low doses, K+-evoked glutamate release in the striatum

The aim of the present work was to determine whether systemic administratio n of the adenosine Az, receptor antagonist, SCH 58261 (7-(2-phenylethyl)-5- amino-2-(2-furyl)-pyrazolo-[4,3,e]-1,2,4,triazolo[1,5,c]pyrimidine), could modulate striatal glutamate outflow in the rat. Microdialysis experiments w ere performed in male Wistar rats implanted with microdialysis probes in th e striatum. Pretreatment (15 min before) with SCH 58261 (0.01 and 0.1, but not 1 mg/kg intraperitoneally) significantly prevented K+-stimulated glutam ate release. These results suggest that SCH 58261 could possess neuroprotec tive effects in the low dose range, while, at higher doses, the occurrence of additional mechanisms may limit the neuroprotective potential of this dr ug. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.