Cytochemical localization of cyclic 3',5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity in the rat olfactory mucosa

Cyclic 3',5'-nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity was demonstrated cytochemically in the rat olfactory mucosa using cyclic AMP as substrate. Strong activity was observed on the plasma membrane of the cilia, dendritic knob and axon of olfactory cells; weak activity was apparent on the membrane of the dendritic shaft and cell body. This suggests that the cyclic AMP produced by odorant-sensitive adenylate cyclase in the dendritic terminal acts mainly in its original site and to a lesser extent in the dendritic shaft and cell body. The enzyme also hydrolysed cyclic GMP but the hydrolysis was not as great as in the case of cyclic AMP. Besides its presence in olfactory cells, enzymatic activity was also observed on the plasma membrane of basal cells and certain supporting cells with an astrocyte-like morphology.