Allosteric inhibition of phosphodiesterase 4D induces biphasic memory-enhancing effects associated with learning-activated signaling pathways.

rationalePhosphodiesterase 4D negative allosteric modulators (PDE4D NAMs) enhance memory and cognitive function in animal models without emetic-like side effects. However, the relationship between increased cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling and the effects of PDE4D NAM remains elusive.

objectiveTo investigate the roles of hippocampal cAMP metabolism and synaptic activation in the effects of D159687, a PDE4D NAM, under baseline and learning-stimulated conditions.

resultsAt 3 mg/kg, D159687 enhanced memory formation and consolidation in contextual fear conditioning; however, neither lower (0.3 mg/kg) nor higher (30 mg/kg) doses induced memory-enhancing effects. A biphasic (bell-shaped) dose-response effect was also observed in a scopolamine-induced model of amnesia in the Y-maze, whereas D159687 dose-dependently caused an emetic-like effect in the xylazine/ketamine anesthesia test. At 3 mg/kg, D159687 increased cAMP levels in the hippocampal CA1 region after conditioning in the fear conditioning test, but not in the home-cage or conditioning cage (i.e., context only). By contrast, 30 mg/kg of D159687 increased hippocampal cAMP levels under all conditions. Although both 3 and 30 mg/kg of D159687 upregulated learning-induced Fos expression in the hippocampal CA1 30 min after conditioning, 3 mg/kg, but not 30 mg/kg, of D159687 induced phosphorylation of synaptic plasticity-related proteins such as cAMP-responsive element-binding protein, synaptosomal-associated protein 25 kDa, and the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit NR2A.

conclusionsOur findings suggest that learning-stimulated conditions can alter the effects of a PDE4D NAM on hippocampal cAMP levels and imply that a PDE4D NAM exerts biphasic memory-enhancing effects associated with synaptic plasticity-related signaling activation.