Low doses of the selective adenosine A2A receptor agonist CGS21680 are protective in a rat model of transient cerebral ischemia

• Low doses of CGS21680 do not modify cardiovascular parameters.
• CGS21680 reduces blood cell infiltration in ischemic areas 2 days after MCAo.
• CGS21680 reduces neurological deficit and ischemic tissue damage 7 days after MCAo.

Evidence indicate that adenosine A2A receptor subtype is of critical importance in stroke. An overexpression of A2A adenosine receptors occurs at central level on neurons and microglia of ischemic striatum and cortex after focal ischemia. Adenosine A2A receptor subtype is localized not only at central level but also peripherally on blood cells, where it is known to exert antiinflammatory effect. Purpose of the present work was to investigate the putative neuroprotective effect of the adenosine A2A receptor agonist CGS21680 in a rat model of transient medial cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo). Transient cerebral ischemia was induced by 1 h occlusion of MCA. CGS21680 (0.01 and 0.1 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered starting 4 h after ischemia according to a chronic protocol (twice/day for 7 days). CGS21680, at the dose of 0.1 mg/kg transiently increased heart frequency but did not modify blood pressure. At the dose of 0.01 mg/kg the drug did not modify either heart frequency or blood pressure. Following transient MCAo, CGS21680 at both doses protected from neurological deficit from the first day up to 7 days thereafter. At this time, it has reduced microgliosis, astrogliosis and improved myelin organization in the striatum and cytoarchitecture of the ischemic cortex and striatum. Two days after transient MCAo, CGS21680 has reduced the number of infiltrated granulocytes into the ischemic tissue. Data indicate that CGS21680 systemically administered is protective by immunosuppressive effects.