Biological effects of P2 purinoceptor modulators in cultured primary cerebellar granule neurons

Nucleosides and nucleotides, whose role as neurotransmitters or cotransmitters was first suggested by the purinergic theory (1, 2), are now regarded as important and abundantly expressed signalling substances of the CNS, although some of their functions and mechanisms of action are still not fully understood. Several specific extracellular P1/adenosine and P2/ATP receptor subtypes, mediating the variety of physiological effects induced by purines, have been identified and cloned (3, 4). In particular, ATP receptors ...