Localization of equilibrative nucleoside transporters in the rat brain.

Adenosine is a recognized inhibitory neuromodulator and neuroprotective agent in the central nervous system. It is produced both intra- and extracellularly and transported across the cell membrane. Nucleoside transporters thus have a major impact on the extracellular adenosine levels, and consequently adenosine signalling. We have raised and characterized polyclonal antibodies against both the equilibrative nucleoside transporters 1 and 2, and report for the first time their distribution in rat brain at the cellular level. Double staining studies were performed to assess the localization of the transporters in neural and glial cells. Both transporters were present in practically all neurons. Some astrocytes showed equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 staining, while equilibrative nucleoside transporter 2 staining on astrocytes was observed only sporadically.