Prevention of kainate-induced excitotoxicity by a purine analogue.

The effect of a systematically administered adenosine analogue upon neuronal damage induced by kanic acid has been examined using the binding of a peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligand as a marker for the gliosis following neuronal death. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of R-phenylisopropyladenosine (R-PIA), at a dose of 100 micrograms kg-1 or 25 micrograms kg-1 reduced substantially the hippocampal neurotoxicity induced by intraperitoneal kainate 100 mg kg-1. The effect of R-PIA was prevented by 8-phenyl-theophylline, confirming the involvement of a purine P1 receptor.