The present study was conducted to explore the influence of rolipram, a specific inhibitor of the phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) isoform, on glutamate release in the rat prefrontal cortex, using isolated nerve terminal (synaptosome) preparation. In prefrontocortical nerve terminals, rolipram potentiated the Ca(2+)-dependent release of glutamate evoked by 4-aminopyridine (4AP) in a concentration-dependent manner. This potentiation of release was occluded by the activation of PKA by Sp-cAMP or beta-adrenergic receptor agonist and prevented by the inhibition of PKA by Rp-cAMP or KT5720, indicating a PKA-mediated mechanism. The rolipram-mediated potentiation of glutamate release is associated with an increase both in the 4AP-evoked depolarization of the synaptosomal plasma membrane potential and in 4AP-evoked Ca(2+) influx into synaptosomes. Moreover, Ca(2+) ionophore ionomycin-induced glutamate release was also facilitated by rolipram. These results concluded that phosphodiesterase 4 inhibited by rolipram produces an increase in PKA activation, which subsequently enhances the voltage-dependent Ca(2+) influx by increasing terminal excitability as well as the vesicular release machinery to cause an increase in evoked glutamate release from rat prefrontocortical nerve terminals.
Copyright 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.