Involvement of phosphodiesterase 4 in β-adrenoceptor agonist-induced amylase release in parotid acinar cells

β-Adrenoceptor activation increases intracellular cAMP levels and consequently induces exocytotic amylase release in parotid acinar cells. Phosphodiesterase (PDE) catalyses the hydrolysis of cAMP, which terminates the downstream signaling of this second messenger. We investigated the involvement of PDE4, a cAMP-PDE, in β-adrenoceptor agonist-induced amylase release in mouse, rat and rabbit parotid acinar cells by using the specific PDE4 inhibitor rolipram. cAMP-PDE activity was detected in mouse, rat and rabbit parotid acinar cells. In the presence of rolipram, cAMP-PDE activity was reduced by about 31%, 38% and 33% in mouse, rat and rabbit parotid acinar cells, respectively. The increase in cAMP levels induced by the β-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol was enhanced in the presence of rolipram in mouse, rat and rabbit parotid acinar cells. Isoproterenol-induced amylase release, but not constitutive amylase release, was also enhanced in the presence of rolipram in mouse, rat and rabbit parotid acinar cells. These results suggest that the rolipram-sensitive cAMP-PDE, PDE4, is involved in β-adrenoceptor agonist-induced amylase release in parotid acinar cells. (J Oral Sci 51, 173-179, 2009)