Adenosine A receptor activates background potassium channels and modulates information processing in olfactory bulb mitral cells.

Key Points: Adenosine is a widespread neuromodulator in the mammalian brain, but whether it affects information processing in sensory system(s) remains largely unknown. Here we show that adenosine A receptors hyperpolarize mitral cells, one class of principal neurons that propagate odour information from the olfactory bulb to higher brain areas, by activation of background K channels. The adenosine-modulated background K channels belong to the family of two-pore domain K channels.