To understand how adenosine receptor stimulation after a PVD-induced stroke affects AMPAR-mediated excitatory synaptic transmission, neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, and behavioral abnormalities, we examined the potential neuroprotective effects of the A2AR antagonist istradefylline in cerebral ischemia using both ex vivo and in vivo models of ischemic stroke. The gene discussed is ADORA2A; the disease is brain ischemia.