| Abstract: | This study investigated the role of endogenous adenosine in eliciting the increases in cerebrospinal fluid cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate concentrations induced by experimental cerebrovascular disorders in rabbits. One group of animals received theophylline, an adenosine antagonist, and another group papaverine, and inhibitor of adenosine uptake, for 7 successive days before the operations. control animals were similarly pretreated with physiologic saline. Papaverine significantly augmented the acute increase in cyclic cAMP concentration of cerebrospinal fluid whereas theophylline leveled off this elevation response. The present findings apparently imply an important role of adenosine in leading to accumulation of cyclic AMP in the cerebrospinal fluid after the experimental cerebrovascular impairment. A further assessment of various adenosine antagonists in the treatment of such disorders seems to be indicated. |
