Adenosine 2A receptor agonism: A single intrathecal administration attenuates motor paralysis in experimental autoimmune encephalopathy in rats

A single intrathecal dose of adenosine 2A receptor (A(2A)R) agonist was previously reported to produce a multi-week reversal of allodynia in two different models of neuropathic pain in addition to downregulating glial activation markers in the spinal cord. We aimed to determine whether a single intrathecal administration of an A(2A)R agonist was able to attenuate motor symptoms induced by experimental autoimmune encephalopathy. Two A(2A)R agonists (CGS21680 and ATL313) significantly attenuated progression of motor symptoms following a single intrathecal administration at the onset of motor symptoms. OX-42, a marker of microglial activation, was significantly attenuated in the lumbar spinal cord following A(2A)R administration compared to vehicle. Therefore, A(2A)R agonists attenuate motor symptoms of EAE by acting on A(2A)R in the spinal cord. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.