Caffeine as a psychomotor stimulant: mechanism of action.

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Fisone G, Borgkvist A, Usiello A

Caffeine as a psychomotor stimulant: mechanism of action.

Cell Mol Life Sci. 2004 Apr;61(7-8):857-72.

PubMed ID

15095008 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

The popularity of caffeine as a psychoactive drug is due to its stimulant properties, which depend on its ability to reduce adenosine transmission in the brain. Adenosine A(1) and A(2A) receptors are expressed in the basal ganglia, a group of structures involved in various aspects of motor control. Caffeine acts as an antagonist to both types of receptors. Increasing evidence indicates that the psychomotor stimulant effect of caffeine is generated by affecting a particular group of projection neurons located in the striatum, the main receiving area of the basal ganglia. These cells express high levels of adenosine A(2A) receptors, which are involved in various intracellular processes, including the expression of immediate early genes and regulation of the dopamine- and cyclic AMP-regulated 32-kDa phosphoprotein DARPP-32. The present review focuses on the effects of caffeine on striatal signal transduction and on their involvement in caffeine-mediated motor stimulation.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets

Drug	Target	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Theobromine	Adenosine receptor A1	Protein	Humans	Yes	Antagonist	Details
Theobromine	Adenosine receptor A2a	Protein	Humans	Yes	Antagonist	Details
Theobromine	cAMP-specific 3',5'-cyclic phosphodiesterase 4B	Protein	Humans	Unknown	Inhibitor	Details