In previous reports, we have shown that cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase (PDE4) is the major PDE in the rat parotid gland, and that PDE4 is activated by phosphorylation. In this study, we investigated the expression of PDE4 isoform genes and alternative splicing variants of PDE4D in the rat parotid gland using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). PDE4A, PDE4B, PDE4C and PDE4D of PDE4 subfamily were expressed. PDE4D was found to be the dominant PDE4 isoform. A weak band of PDE4C was detectable. Three alternative splicing variants (PDE4D1, PDE4D2 and PDE4D3) derived from the rat PDE4D gene were expressed in the parotid gland. These data suggested that the intracellular cAMP level is regulated by multiple response mechanisms through the activations of the PDE by phosphorylation and gene expression in the rat parotid gland.