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Horm Metab Res 2012; 44(10): 790-794
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1321861
Review
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Regulation of Adrenal Steroidogenesis by the High-affinity Phosphodiesterase 8 Family

L-C. L. Tsai
1   Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
,
J. A. Beavo
1   Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 30 December 2011

accepted 09 July 2012

Publication Date:
17 August 2012 (online)

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Abstract

The main function of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterases (PDEs) is to degrade cAMP, a ubiquitous second messenger. Therefore, PDEs can function as prime regulators of cAMP/PKA-dependent processes such as steroidogenesis. Until recently, the roles of the PDE8 family have been largely unexplored, presumably due to the lack of a selective inhibitor. This review focuses on recent reports about the regulatory roles of the PDE8 family in adrenal steroidogenesis, as well as the inhibitory properties and specificity of a new PDE8-selective inhibitor, PF-04957325. We also describe a method of measuring urinary corticosterone levels in vivo as a minimally invasive way of monitoring the stress level in a mouse.

Key words

adrenal cortex - glucocorticoids - androgen
 

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