Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate in Primary Cultures of Glial Cells

Cyclic GMP was found in primary cultures of glial cells obtained by dissociation of newborn mouse brain hemispheres. Its basal level (0.52 pmoles/mg cell protein) was as high as that found in adult mouse brain cortex but 10 times lower than in cerebellum. When glia were grown in the presence of dBcAMP, astrocytes changed their morphology; cGMP level increased and reached about 8 to 10 times the basal value. This increase was dose dependant with cAMP and was enhanced by the presence of 5mM Theophylline. Two hypothesis are discussed, either a direct action oc cAMP on glial cGMP metabolism or an indirect one on the protein activator of cGMP phosphodiesterase.