Adenosine A1 receptors are modified by acute treatment with methylphenidate in adult mice

►Acute treatment with methylphenidate triggered anxiolytic-like behavior in adult mice. ►The selective blockade of adenosine A1 receptors was not able to prevent anxiolytic-like behavior by acute treatment with methylphenidate. ►Adenosine A1 receptors immunocontent remained unaltered in the hippocampus by acute treatment with methylphenidate. ►There was an upregulation of adenosine A1 receptors in the rat frontal cortex by an acute overdosage of methylphenidate. ►Even though our findings ruled out the participation of adenosine A1 receptors in the anxiolytic effects by administration of methylphenidate, this is the first study reporting modification on adenosine receptors in a brain region strictly involved in the pharmacological properties of methylphenidate.