Effects of chronic administration of adenosine A1 receptor agonist and antagonist on spatial learning and memory

Spatial memory acquisition in Morris water maze was tested in C57BL/6 mice. Animals were injected once daily with different doses of either N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) or 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (CPX). Drugs were administered for 9 days either concurrently with water maze testing (drugs injected 1 h after each trial), or prior to the entire block of trials. In the latter case, 1 day without injections preceded water maze experiments. Chronic administration of CPA resulted in a significant, dose-dependent reduction of target latencies, rapid development of spatial preference, and the absence of animals unable to perform the task. CPX treated animals did not show significant performance changes, and failed to develop spatial preference. Locomotor disturbances were not the cause of the observed effects. Our results indicate that chronic treatment with agents acting at adenosine A1 receptors results in behavioral effects that are significantly different from those observed following their acute administration. Therefore, particular caution is required in development of adenosine-based strategies targeted at neurodegenerative or cognitive disorders in which chronic treatment is advocated.