Adenosine and Its Receptors Update: Influence on Cerebral Blood Flow (CBF)

Introduction

This chapter updates the data supporting the hypothesis that adenosine (Ado) is a metabolic regulator of cerebral blood flow (CBF). A metabolic regulator is a substance whose concentration reflects and is linked to cellular metabolism. If a factor is to be considered as a metabolic regulator of blood flow, it must fulfill certain criteria (see Table 14.1 ) .

Table 14.1

Criteria for a Metabolic Regulator

1.
Must be a vasoactive agent.
2.
The affected organ must be capable of producing the proposed regulator and in appropriate vasoeffective concentrations.
3.
Metabolic activity that increases (or decreases) blood flow must correlate with an increase (or decrease) of the regulator.
4.
Temporal production of the regulator must correlate with changes in metabolism and blood flow. Thus, there should exist rapid mechanisms for production and catabolism of the regulator.
5.
Specific blockade (or enhancement) of the metabolic regulator must diminish (or increase) the expected vascular response.

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