Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in fetal and adult muscle of the rhesus monkey.

Total cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity of voluntary skeletal muscle of the rhesus monkey was highest in the 100-day fetal series, decreased near term, and was lowest in the adult series. Kinetic data indicated the existence of two cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase enzymes in both the fetal and adult muscle. The apparent K_m values for the high-affinity phosphodiesterase were similar in the 100-day fetal and adult skeletal muscle, whereas those for the low-affinity enzyme were twofold higher in the fetal series. The V_max of the high K_m enzyme was tenfold higher in the fetal than in the adult series and the low K_mV_max was fourfold higher in the fetal series. Both caffeine and theophylline were competitive inhibitors of the low K_m phosphodiesterase activity and noncompetitive inhibitors of the high K_m enzyme. No difference was observed in the sensitivity of the fetal and adult enzyme preparations to the methylxanthines or to Ro20-1724.