Adenyl cyclase in normal and denervated skeletal muscles

Adenyl cyclase (AC) has been studied in homogenates and crude plasma membranes from normal and denervated red and white skeletal muscle from male rats. Basal-, NaF- and epinephrine-stimulated activities were increased in homogenates of both types of muscles after nerve transection, supporting a possible role of the cAMP-AC system in the neurotrophic control of skeletal muscle. AC-specific activity was increased 10 times in crude plasmic membranes from normal muscle if compared to that of homogenate. It was decreased in crude plasmic membrane from denervated muscle. The correlation of our results with other results on cAMP concentrations and cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) activities in denervated muscle suggests that factors other than AC and PDE might control the synthesis and degradation of cAMP.     

The isolation and characterization of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases from Morris hepatoma 5123tc(h) and rat liver

Four main phosphodiesterase (PDE) forms were resolved and partially purified from rat liver and Morris hepatoma 5123tc(h). The activities of the high Km cyclic nucleotide PDE (form II) in hepatoma were markedly reduced compared to liver, while the activities of the low Km cAMP PDE (form III) and low Km cyclic nucleotide PDE (form IV) in hepatoma were markedly higher than those of liver. The partially purified low Km cAMP PDE's (forms III and IV) from liver showed non-linear Lineweaver-Burk plots, whereas the same enzyme forms in hepatoma displayed linear kinetics. Activation of low Km cGMP PDE activity by calmodulin was found with form I in liver whereas in hepatoma form II was responsive to calmodulin.     

Myosin heavy chain isoforms expression and cyclic AMP concentrations in hypoxia-induced hypertrophied right ventricle in rats

We have previously demonstrated that the relative expression of myosin heavy chain-beta (MHC-β) in both ventricles of rats exposed to long-term hypobaric hypoxia correlated significantly with the relative ventricular mass. In the present study, we investigated whether an increased expression of MHC-β was accompanied by a reduction in cyclic AMP (cAMP) activity in hypoxia-induced hypertrophied right ventricle (RV). We used male Wistar–Kyoto rats born and raised at simulated altitudes (2200 m: H2 group or 4000 m: H4 group) compared to age-matched sea level controls (SC group). There were no significant differences between the groups in basal and forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase (AC) activities. The basal and IBMX-inhibited phosphodiesterase (PDE) activities were slightly higher in both hypoxic groups (p>0.05), except that the H2 group had a higher basal PDE activity than the SC group (p<0.05). The AC/PDE activity ratios were significantly decreased in both hypoxic groups (p<0.05), suggesting that low concentrations of cellular cAMP were maintained in the RV under hypoxic conditions. However, there were no correlations between MHC-β expression and either AC activity, PDE activity, or AC/PDE activity ratio. These results provided evidence against the causal role for cAMP concentration in the expression of MHC-β associated with hypoxia-induced ventricular hypertrophy.     

Aspects of the biochemical toxicology of cadmium.

Cadmium, in addition to producing a variety of toxic manifestations, is known to accumulate in certain "target" organs which include liver and kidney where histological and functional damage becomes apparent. The daily intraperitoneal injection of cadmium chloride for 21 or 45 days stimulated the activities of hepatic pyruvate carboxylase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, fructose-1, 6-diphosphatase and glucose-6-phosphatase elevated blood glucose and urea, and lowered hepatic glycogen in rats. Whereas chronic Cd treatment failed to alter adenosine-3', 5'-monophosphate phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity, cyclic AMP (cAMY and the activity of basal and fluoride-stimulated forms of hepatic adenylate cyclase (AC) were markedly increased. However, the cAMP binding to hepatic protein kinase was decreased as was the kinase activity ration. An acute dose of Cd decreased hepatic glycogen content and increased blood glucose, serum urea, and hepatic cAMP. Chronic exposure to Cd induced adrenal hypertrophy and augmented adrenal norepinephrine and epinephrine as well as the activity of adrenal tyrosine hydroxylase. This treatment decreased prostatic and testicular weights of mature rats. Although cAMP as well as AC activity of the prostate gland were reduced, cAMP binding to the prostatic protein kinase was increased as was the activity of the cAMP-dependent form of the enzyme. Testicular AC and PDE activities, however, were stimulated, although cAMP remained unaffected. Whereas the activities of the cAMP-dependent and the independent forms of testicular protein kinase were significantly depressed, the binding of cAMP to protein kinase from testes of Cd-treated rats was not affected. In most cases, the observed metabolic alterations persisted up to 28 days on cessation of Cd administration. Subacute Cd treatment suppressed pancreatic function as evidenced by lowered serum immunoreactive insulin (IRI) in presence of hyperglycemia, as well as by partial inhibition of phentolamine-stimulated increases in serum IRI. Although chronic Cd treatment failed to alter the concentration of brain stem norepinephrine and cerebrocortical acetylcholine esterase activity, serotonin levels of brain stem were depressed and the concentration of striatal dopamine and cerebrocortical acetylcholine were significantly elevated when compared with the values seen in control nonexposed animals.     

Some features of cyclic adenosine monophosphate metabolism in mouse liver and hepatoma 22]

The levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and two forms of cAMP phosphodiesterase with low (PDE1) and high (PDE2) affinity for the substrate were determined in homogenates from mouse liver and transplanted hepatoma 22. The level of cAMP in the tumour is 3 times lower than that in liver. By te kinetic parameters (Vmax, Km, pH optimum) adenylate cyclase from tumour does not show any significant differences as compared to the liver enzyme; the enzyme from hepatoma is, however, more sensitive to activation by F- ions. The activities of adenylate cyclase in liver and tumour cells are the same. Phosphodiesterases of cAMP from tumour and liver cells are similar in their Km values (3,3-10(-4) M for PDE1 and 2-10(-6) M for PDE2); however, the maximal and real rates of cAMP hydrolysis in hepatoma are much higher than in liver. The fact that both cAMP phosphodiesterase activities have similar dependence on Mg2+ and Ca2+ concentrations, suggests that PDE1 is a latent form of PDE2. In tumour cells the equilibrium between these two forms is probably shifted towards the enzyme with high affinity for the substrate. The results suggest that a decreased cAMP level in hepatoma cells (as compared to the liver) is due to the activation of PDE2.     

Systems analysis of GLP-1 receptor signaling in pancreatic β-cells

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) elevates intracellular concentration of cAMP ([cAMP]) and facilitates glucose-dependent insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells. There has been much evidence to suggest that multiple key players such as the GLP-1 receptor, G(s) protein, adenylate cyclase (AC), phosphodiesterase (PDE), and intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]) are involved in the regulation of [cAMP]. However, because of complex interactions among these signaling factors, the kinetics of the reaction cascade as well as the activities of ACs and PDEs have not been determined in pancreatic β-cells. We have constructed a minimal mathematical model of GLP-1 receptor signal transduction based on experimental findings obtained mostly in β-cells and insulinoma cell lines. By fitting this theoretical reaction scheme to key experimental records of the GLP-1 response, the parameters determining individual reaction steps were estimated. The model reconstructed satisfactorily the dynamic changes in [cAMP] and predicted the activities of cAMP effectors, protein kinase A (PKA), and cAMP-regulated guanine nucleotide exchange factor [cAMP-GEF or exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac)] during GLP-1 stimulation. The simulations also predicted the presence of two sequential desensitization steps of the GLP1 receptor that occur with fast and very slow reaction rates. The cross talk between glucose- and GLP-1-dependent signal cascades for cAMP synthesis was well reconstructed by integrating the direct regulation of AC and PDE by [Ca(2+)]. To examine robustness of the signaling system in controlling [cAMP], magnitudes of AC and PDE activities were compared in the presence or absence of GLP-1 and/or the PDE inhibitor IBMX.(1).     

Effect of cold exposure on liver and muscle cAMP content and cAMP phosphodiesterase activity

Adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) concentration and 3',5'-cyclic-nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity were measured in skeletal muscle, heart, and liver of rats exposed to 1, 3, 5, and 7 days of cold. Cyclic nucleotide concentration increased in fast-twitch red muscle at the same time that PDE activity was decreasing. Nucleotide concentration and enzyme activity of slow-twitch red muscle were not altered by the cold exposure. The PDE activity of fast-twitch white muscle was elevated approximately 50% above control after 1 and 3 days of cold exposure. By the 5th day in the cold, white muscle PDE activity had returned to control levels and remained there through the 7th day of experimentation. cAMP concentration in hearts of cold-exposed rats was significantly (P less than 0.01) elevated above control at all time points measured. Myocardial PDE activity was elevated above control (P less than 0.05) at 1 and 3 days of cold exposure but returned to control levels by the 5th day in the cold. Hepatic cAMP and PDE activity were elevated above control at all time points analyzed. These data suggest that changes in cyclic nucleotide metabolism play a role in attaining homeostasis during acute cold exposure.     

Heterozygous mutations in cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase-4D (PDE4D) and protein kinase A (PKA) provide new insights into the molecular pathology of acrodysostosis

Acrodysostosis without hormone resistance is a rare skeletal disorder characterized by brachydactyly, nasal hypoplasia, mental retardation and occasionally developmental delay. Recently, loss-of-function mutations in the gene encoding cAMP-hydrolyzing phosphodiesterase-4D (PDE4D) have been reported to cause this rare condition but the pathomechanism has not been fully elucidated. To understand the pathogenetic mechanism of PDE4D mutations, we conducted 3D modeling studies to predict changes in the binding efficacy of cAMP to the catalytic pocket in PDE4D mutants. Our results indicated diminished enzyme activity in the two mutants we analyzed (Gly673Asp and Ile678Thr; based on PDE4D4 residue numbering). Ectopic expression of PDE4D mutants in HEK293 cells demonstrated this reduction in activity, which was identified by increased cAMP levels. However, the cells from an acrodysostosis patient showed low cAMP accumulation, which resulted in a decrease in the phosphorylated cAMP Response Element-Binding Protein (pCREB)/CREB ratio. The reason for this discrepancy was due to a compensatory increase in expression levels of PDE4A and PDE4B isoforms, which accounted for the paradoxical decrease in cAMP levels in the patient cells expressing mutant isoforms with a lowered PDE4D activity. Skeletal radiographs of 10-week-old knockout (KO) rats showed that the distal part of the forelimb was shorter than in wild-type (WT) rats and that all the metacarpals and phalanges were also shorter in KO, as the name acrodysostosis implies. Like the G-protein α-stimulatory subunit and PRKAR1A, PDE4D critically regulates the cAMP signal transduction pathway and influences bone formation in a way that activity-compromising PDE4D mutations can result in skeletal dysplasia. We propose that specific inhibitory PDE4D mutations can lead to the molecular pathology of acrodysostosis without hormone resistance but that the pathological phenotype may well be dependent on an over-compensatory induction of other PDE4 isoforms that can be expected to be targeted to different signaling complexes and exert distinct effects on compartmentalized cAMP signaling.     

Functional changes in adenylyl cyclases and associated decreases in relaxation responses in mesenteric arteries from diabetic rats

To assess the functional change in adenylyl cyclases (AC) associated with the diabetic state, we investigated AC-mediated relaxations and cAMP production in mesenteric arteries from rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. The relaxations induced by the water-soluble forskolin (FSK) analog NKH477, which is a putative AC5 activator, but not by the beta-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol (Iso) and the AC activator FSK, were reduced in intact diabetic mesenteric artery. In diabetic rats, however, Iso-, FSK-, and NKH477-induced relaxations were attenuated in the presence of inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase. To exclude the influence of phosphodiesterase (PDE), we also examined the relaxations induced by several AC activators in the presence of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX; a PDE inhibitor). Under these conditions, the relaxation induced by Iso was greatly impaired in STZ-diabetic rats. This Iso-induced relaxation was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with SQ-22536, an AC inhibitor, in mesenteric rings from age-matched controls but not in those from STZ-diabetic rats. Under the same conditions, the relaxations induced by FSK or NKH477 were impaired in STZ-diabetic rats. Neither FSK- nor A-23187 (a Ca2+ ionophore)-induced cAMP production was significantly different between diabetics and controls. However, cAMP production induced by Iso or NKH477 was significantly impaired in diabetic mesenteric arteries. Expression of mRNAs and proteins for AC5/6 was lower in diabetic mesenteric arteries than in controls. These results suggest that AC-mediated relaxation is impaired in the STZ-diabetic rat mesenteric artery, perhaps reflecting a reduction in AC5/6 activity.     

Effect of gangliosides on adenylyl cyclase activity in the cortex and striatum of rats

By studying the effects of gangliosides (G) on learning and memory we have found that i.p. administration of G led to a decrease in AC activity in the cortex (Cx) and striatum (Str) as well as in the threshold of the sensitivity of striatal neurons to the effect of cholinergic agonists. G also modified the sensitivity of AC from the Cx and Str to such agents as Gpp[NH]p and forskolin. The aim of this work was to analyze the correlation between the changes in the activity of AC in the Cx and Str, concentration of G in these brain structures as well as formation of motor reactions of newborn rats during the first month of postnatal ontogenesis. It was found that new born rats develop normal body rotation by sixth day, locomotion by fifteenth day and stabilization of locomotor activity and supporting body balance by 20–22nd day. As shown previously, the concentration of gangliosides in the Cx and Str is gradually increasing during the first month of animal development. The activity of AC (pmol cAMP/min/mg of protein) in the Cx was found to decrease from 34.75 to 4.09 and in the Str from 46.00 to 11.67 during the first week after birth. However in the periods of formation of general behavioural reactions we observed a statistically significant increase in AC activity: in the Str on 10th and 26th days (p < 0.01) and in the Cx from 10th to 19th days (p < 0.05) compared to the AC activity on 5th and 30th days. Thus, formation of locomotor activity and posture‐tonic reactions during development of rats in early postnatal ontogenesis correlates with increasing concentration of G and basal activity of AC. Supported by RFBR (99‐04‐49751) and RAS (99‐06‐287).     

The effect of gamma irradiation on the structure and enzymatic activity of the nuclear membrane of the liver in pregnant rats and their embryos]

Morphological and biochemical investigations of pregnant rats and embryo liver cell nuclei after in vivo irradiation in the doses of 1 and 2 Gr revealed their high radiosensitivity at all stages of gestation and embryonal development. At damaging effect of radiation, we managed to observe sharp accumulation of products of lipid peroxide oxidation and suppression of the activities of such enzymes as cytochrome-c-oxidase, NAD.N-cytochrome-c-reductase, ATPase and RNAase in liver nuclei of pregnant rats and embryos. The changes of such a kind are shown to intensify with the increasing of irradiation doses. The most profound inhibition of the activities of these enzymes in liver nuclei of embryos irradiated in utero was observed during the period of organogenesis (the 13th day of the development) and in fetal period of embryogenesis (the 17th day of the development), as well as at the 13th and 17th day of gestation. The morphological data also demonstrate the high level of cell nucleus sensitivity to the action of radiation during gestation and embryogenesis.     

Effects of ethanol on gastric mucosal adenosine 3', 5' monophosphate (cAMP)

The effects of ethanol on the gastric mucosal adenosine 3′, 5′-monophosphate (cAMP) system were evaluated. The activity of adenylate cyclase (AC), phosphodiesterase (PDE), and tissue content of cAMP were determined in the presence of ethanol. NaF stimulated AC in rat gastric mucosa was inhibited in vitro and in vivo by 20% ethanol. Basal AC activity was so low (0.05 ± 0.10 pmoles cAMP formed/min/mg protein) that consistent results without NaF could not be obtained. The PDE activity (172 ± 11 pmoles cAMP consumed/min/mg protein) was approximately 350 fold greater than the basal AC activity. All levels of ethanol tested (2.0–20.0%) significantly inhibited (p<0.05) PDE in vitro. Gastric mucosal levels of cAMP are not measurably altered by ethanol in vivo (5–20%).     

Regulation of self-incompatibility by acetylcholine and cAMP in Lilium longiflorum

Elongation of pollen tubes in pistils of Lilium longiflorum cv. Hinomoto after self-incompatible pollination was here found to be promoted by acetylcholine (ACh) and other choline derivatives, such as acetylthiocholine, l-alpha-phosphatidylcholine and chlorocholinechloride [CCC; (2-chloroethyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride]. Moreover, the elongation was promoted by neostigmine, a potent inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE; acetylcholine-decomposing enzyme) (EC 3.1.1.7.) and activities of this and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT; acetylcholine-forming enzyme) (EC 2.3.1.6.) in pistils were associated with self-incompatibility. The activity of ChAT was lower after self-incompatible as compared with cross-compatible pollination. Application of cAMP promoted ChAT activities in both cases, whereas activity of AChE in pistils after self-pollination was higher than that after cross-compatible pollination and was suppressed by cAMP in both cases. Furthermore, AChE activity was inhibited by treatment with neostigmine or heating. Our results indicate that the self-incompatibility with self-pollination is due to decrease of ACh and cAMP, causing reduction of ChAT and AC (adenylate cyclase) and concise elevation of AChE and PDE (cAMP phosphodiesterase), and therefore suppressed growth of pollen tubes.     

Effect of salt loading in the rat on adenylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase activity in kidney cortex, medulla and papilla.

Adenylate cyclase (AC) and phosphodiesterase (PDE) activities were studied in the cortex, medulla and papilla of the rat kidney. Sodium loading in vivo for 14 days resulted in a decrease of AC activity in the cortex, a small increase in the medulla and a substantial increase of AC activity in the papilla. Sodium loading caused reciprocal effects on PDE activity: an increase in kidney cortex and a decrease in kidney papilla. Loading of glucose in vivo or chronic administration of antidiuretic hormone in vivo did not cause the changes in AC or PDE observed after sodium loading. The possible significance of these findings is discussed.     

Characterization of particulate cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases from bovine brain: purification of a distinct cGMP-stimulated isoenzyme

In the absence of detergent, approximately 80-85% of the total cGMP-stimulated phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity in bovine brain was associated with washed particulate fractions; approximately 85-90% of the calmodulin-sensitive PDE was soluble. Particulate cGMP-stimulated PDE was higher in cerebral cortical gray matter than in other regions. Homogenization of the brain particulate fraction in 1% Lubrol increased cGMP-stimulated activity approximately 100% and calmodulin-stimulated approximately 400-500%. Although 1% Lubrol readily solubilized these PDE activities, approximately 75% of the cAMP PDE activity (0.5 microM [3H]cAMP) that was not affected by cGMP was not solubilized. This cAMP PDE activity was very sensitive to inhibition by Rolipram but not cilostamide. Thus, three different PDE types, i.e., cGMP stimulated, calmodulin sensitive, and Rolipram inhibited, are associated in different ways with crude bovine brain particulate fractions. After solubilization and purification by chromatography on cGMP-agarose, heparin-agarose, and Superose 6, the brain particulate cGMP-stimulated PDE cross-reacted with antibody raised against a cGMP-stimulated PDE purified from calf liver supernatant. The brain enzyme exhibited a slightly greater subunit Mr than did soluble forms from calf liver or bovine brain, as evidenced by protein staining or immunoblotting after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions. Incubation of brain particulate and liver soluble cGMP-stimulated PDEs with V8 protease produced several peptides of similar size, as well as at least two distinct fragments of approximately 27 kDa from the brain and approximately 23 kDa from the liver enzyme.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Absence of an effect of the lithium-induced increase in cyclic GMP on the cyclic GMP-stimulated phosphodiesterase (PDE II). Evidence for cyclic AMP-specific hydrolysis

Chronic treatment of rats with LiCl is known to induce a decrease in cAMP, while this decrease has also been found to occur together with both a simultaneous increase in total cortical phosphodiesterase (PDE; EC 3.1.4.17) activity and a concomitant increase in cGMP. These studies have implicated an involvement of PDE in lithium (Li⁺) action and it has been suggested that cGMP and the cGMP-stimulated PDE may be instrumental in the observed effects of Li⁺ on cAMP. In this study, three isozymes of PDE were isolated and identified from rat cortex and their activity determined, together with simultaneous measurement of cAMP and cGMP, after chronic treatment with oral LiCl (0.35% m/m). Li⁺ treatment exerted profound effects on cyclic nucleotides in the cortex, inducing significant suppression of cAMP while increasing cGMP levels. However, the ion only induced a slight but insignificant increase in the activities of the three PDE isozymes. To confirm these observations, methylparaben (MPB), a drug demonstrating both an ability to induce a selective stimulation of cAMP-specific PDE and also to lower intracellular levels of cGMP, was co-administration orally (0.4% m/m) with Li⁺ over the same period. This combination emphasized certain actions of Li⁺ not noted with Li⁺ alone. MPB inhibited the Li⁺-induced increase in cGMP, yet did not prevent the ion from decreasing cAMP. However, the combination of Li⁺ and MPB engendered a synergistic 100% increase in the activity of the membrane-bound, cAMP-specific PDE, PDE IV. This combination also produced a significant suppression of cAMP, while no reduction in cGMP was observed. The data is indicative that Li⁺-induced suppression of cAMP does not appear to be related to an effect on the cGMP-dependent PDE II, and that the increases in cGMP and PDE induced by Li⁺ observed previously and in the present study are two unrelated events. Instead, the synergistic response of Li⁺ plus MPB on PDE IV, and the associated reduction of cAMP, indicate that Li⁺ may promote selective cAMP hydrolysis via an effect on membrane-bound forms of PDE. This effect of Li⁺ on PDE IV, as well as the reciprocal effects on cyclic nucleotide balance, may have important implications in explaining the antipsychotic actions of the ion.     

Radiation modulation of the activity of the enzymatic systems in isolated plasma membranes in early ontogeny

The activity of adenylate cyclase (Ac), cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) and 5'-nucleotidase was studied in plasma membranes from the liver of rat embryo of the 20th day of development normally and after exposure to ionizing radiation. Gamma-irradiation of plasma membranes with doses ranging from 0.1 to 100 kR was shown to inhibit the activity of Ac, this effect being more pronounced during stimulation with higher doses of isoproterenol. The activity of 5'-nucleotidase and PDE remained unchanged up to the dose of 100 kR.     

Activation of rabbit liver high affinity cAMP (type IV) phosphodiesterase by a vanadyl-glutathione complex. Characterization of the role of the sulfhydryl.

Activation of rabbit liver microsomal high affinity cAMP phosphodiesterase (Type IV PDE) by vanadyl-glutathione complexes was studied as a possible model of insulin stimulation of the enzyme in a cell-free system. The effect of VO.2GSH activation of PDE was a 21-fold decrease in the IC50 value for cGMP inhibition and a 2.6-fold increase in the Vmax of the higher affinity cAMP catalytic site. Cyclic AMP and cGMP substrate affinities and cGMP hydrolysis were unaffected by VO.2GSH activation. Selective Type IV PDE inhibitors and cGMP analogs indicated that VO.2GSH complexes activated the cGMP-inhibitable form of the Type IV PDE activities which co-localized in hepatic microsomes. The Type IV PDE activating complex appears to consist minimally of vanadyl ion and 2 oxidized electron donor compounds. The components of the electron donor required to achieve an enzyme activation complex are: 1) a free -SH group as the electron donor for vanadate reduction and 2) a minimum structure of cysteamine (NH2-CH2-CH2-SH). Maximal activation of the enzyme required near 2:1 molar ratios of either glutathione or cysteamine mixed with sodium orthovanadate. Active vanadyl-cysteamine complexes were isolated by reverse- phase high performance liquid chromatography. Tungsten, niobium, and tantalum, but not manganese, chromium, or molybdenum, substituted for vanadium to form enzyme-activating complexes with glutathione. VO.RSH complex activation occurred rapidly upon addition to microsomes and was reversible. We conclude from these studies that VO.RSH complexes and insulin activate the same form of Type IV PDE in rabbit liver microsomes; our findings are discussed with respect to the involvement of a possible electron transfer enzyme oxidation in the activation mechanism.     

Cyclic nucleotide-mediated regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity

Cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) express both cGMP- inhibited cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE-3) and Ro,20-1724-inhibited cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE-4) activities. Utilizing a PDE-3-selective inhibitor (cilostamide) and a PDE-4-selective inhibitor (Ro,20-1724), PDE-3 and PDE-4 activities were shown to account for 15 and 55% of total VSMC cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity. Incubations of VSMC with either forskolin or 8-bromo-cAMP caused a concentration- and time-dependent increase in total cellular cAMP PDE activity. In these cells, both PDE-3 and PDE-4 activities were increased, with a relatively larger effect observed on PDE-3 activity. Similar incubations with an activator of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sodium nitroprusside) or with 8-bromo-cGMP did not increase cAMP PDE activity. cAMP-induced increases in cAMP PDE activity were inhibited with actinomycin D or cycloheximide, demonstrating that new mRNA and protein synthesis were required. We conclude that VSMC cAMP PDE activity is elevated following long-term elevation of cAMP, and that increases in PDE-3 and PDE-4 activities account for more than 70% of this increase. These results may have implications for long-term use of cAMP PDE inhibitors as therapeutic agents.