Effect of Acute Hypoxia Exposure on the Availability of A1 Adenosine Receptors and Perfusion in the Human Brain

In animal studies it has been observed that the inhibitory neuromodulator adenosine is released into the cerebral interstitial space during hypoxic challenges. Adenosine’s actions on the A₁ adenosine receptor (A₁AR) protect the brain from oxygen deprivation and overexertion through adjustments in cerebral blood flow, metabolism, and electric activity. Methods: Using 8-cyclopentyl-3-(3-[¹⁸F]fluoropropyl)-1-propylxanthine ([¹⁸F]CPFPX), a PET tracer for the A₁AR, we tested the hypothesis that hypoxia-induced adenosine release reduces A₁AR availability in the human brain. Furthermore, we investigated whether this response is associated with altered brain perfusion and psychomotor vigilance. Ten healthy volunteers completed a 110-min bolus–plus–constant-infusion [¹⁸F]CPFPX PET/MRI hybrid experiment including a 30-min interval of normobaric hypoxia with peripheral oxygen saturation between 70% and 75%. We obtained blood samples to calculate metabolite-corrected steady-state A₁AR distribution volumes and measured gray matter brain perfusion via arterial spin labeling in high temporal resolution. A 3-min psychomotor vigilance test was conducted every 10 min, and heart rate and peripheral blood oxygen saturation were continuously measured. Results: In all 7 examined brain regions, hypoxia reduced A₁AR availability significantly (e.g., frontal lobe, 13.5%; P = 0.0144) whereas gray matter brain perfusion increased (e.g., frontal lobe, 42.5%; P = 0.0007). Heart rate increased by 19% (P = 0.0039). Mean reaction speed decreased by 4.3% (P = 0.0021). Conclusion: Our study is the first, to our knowledge, to demonstrate that acute hypoxia, corresponding to a mean altitude of 5,500 m (18,000 ft), reduces A₁AR availability in the human brain. The finding is consistent with hypoxia-induced cerebral adenosine release leading to increased A₁AR occupancy.