Adenosine permeation of a dynamic in vitro blood-brain barrier inhibited by dipyridamole.

Adenosine is an inhibitory neuromodulator in the central nervous system and has been reported to have neuroprotective properties. Using a dynamic in vitro blood-brain barrier, we investigated the hypothesis that inhibition of adenosine transporters on the lumenal side of the blood-brain barrier may decrease the loss of adenosine from the brain. Our results indicate that lumenal administration of dipyridamole, a nucleoside transport inhibitor, can inhibit adenosine permeation from the extracapillary space into the lumen.