[The role of hypothermia in brain protection by adenosine receptor agonists].

Agonists of A1 adenosine receptors induce a profound hypothermia that is correlated with a considerable increase in tolerance with respect to the global cerebral ischemia. Thermal irradiation of the head considerably decreases and the thermoneutral temperature completely prevents (i) the development of hypothermia in the body and, especially, in the cortex and (ii) the neuroprotection, so that a correlation of these two effects disappears. The induction of hypothermia is the most important but not single mechanism of neuroprotective action of A1-receptor agonists. Other A-agonists are much less active.