en Pharmacology Pharmacology Review Article Review Article Besides being a metabolite of nucleotides like ATP, adenosine is a mediator of neuronal function in the central nervous system. Its actions are mediated by at least three extracellular receptors. In this review different aspects of adenosine such as biosynthesis, release, inactivation and its receptors are discussed. It also covers pre- and postsynaptic effects as well as postreceptor mechanisms of adenosine. Finally, therapeutic aspects of this neuromodulator have been discussed. Adenosine, Purine, Central nervous system, Review. 361 368 http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-298-855&slc_lang=en&sid=1 H HOSSEINZADEH 20031947532846006895 20031947532846006895 No From the Department of Pharmacodynamics and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Islamic Republic of Iran. T.W STONE 20031947532846006896 20031947532846006896 Yes From the Department of Pharmacology, Glasgow University, Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.