“…Furthermore, P2X7R activation by ATP or the high affinity P2X7R agonist BzATP (3'-O-(4-benzoyl)benzoyl-ATP) (Erb et al, 1990) significantly enhanced ROS production in primary rat microglia, and P2X7R–expressing microglia in APPswe/PS1dE9 mice exhibited significant ROS production that colocalized with decreased expression of the synapse protein postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95), suggesting that P2X7R–mediated ROS production by microglia cells contributes to synaptic loss in this mouse model of AD (Parvathenani et al, 2003; Lee et al, 2011). Microglial P2X7R upregulation was also observed in a rat model where Aβ 1-42 was directly injected into the hippocampus, which lead to memory deficits and degeneration of hippocampal neurons within 7 days (Kowall et al, 1991; Malin et al, 2001; McLarnon et al, 2006). Administration of the selective P2X7R antagonist Brilliant Blue G (BBG) (Jiang et al, 2000) following hippocampal Aβ 1-42 injection was shown to confer neuroprotection and reduce inflammatory responses, reactive gliosis and neuronal loss in the hippocampus (Ryu and McLarnon, 2008).…”