Adenosine triphosphate neurotransmitter role

Adenosine Triphosphate Adenosine 5 -(tetrahydrogen triphosphate). An adenine nucleotide containing three phosphate groups esterified to the sugar moiety. In addition to its crucial roles in metabolism adenosine triphosphate is a neurotransmitter. [NIH]... 

In the 20 years since Daly reported the potential of adenosine receptors as drug targets (Daly, 1982), considerable advances have been made in the field of purinergic receptor-related research. Although a range of neurotransmitters is known, today there is no doubt that adenosine and adenosine 5 -triphosphate (ATP) also play an important role in the process of cell to cell communication. This function leads to multiple potential indications for research on adenosine and ATP, e.g. neurodegeneration or cardiovascular diseases, but here the focus lies on adenosine s role in pain (see also review by Salter and Sollevi, 2001). 

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