BRAIN DISTRIBUTION OF 4 RAT HOMOLOGS OF THE DROSOPHILA DUNCE CAMP-PHOSPHODIESTERASE

We have analyzed the brain distribution of the rat cAMP-specific phosp hodiesterases (rPDEIV) which are closely related to the defective gene products of the drosophila melanogaster learning and memory mutant du nce, PCR analysis of rat brain cDNA was performed on the four known du nce-like cAMP PDE rat isogenes (rPDE-IV-A, -B, -C, -D). High expressio n of three of these isogenes (rPDEIV-A, -B, -D) highlighted their invo lvement in regulation of cAMP in the brain, Specific probes for all fo ur isogenes were then used for in situ hybridization of rat brain sect ions. Distinct but overlapping expression patterns were observed for r PDEIV-A, rPDEIV-B, and rPDEIV-D, Abundant expression of these subtypes was observed in the olfactory system, the hippocampus and the cerebel lum, while no specific signals could be detected in most areas of the brain for the subtype rPDEIV-C. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.