Species differences in localization of cardiac cAMP-phosphodiesterase activity: a cytochemical study

The localization of the membrane-bound cyclic 3',5'-AMP phosphodiesterase in cardiac tissues of both, rat and dog was studied by cytochemical method. 40 microm thick slices from glutaraldehyde fixed heart tissue were incubated in the medium with cAMP as a substrate and Pb ions as a capture metal of the reaction product. The cAMP-PDE activity in the rat ventricle was only shown positive on the sarcolemma. Whereas, in canine ventricular tissue the cAMP-PDE activity in cardiomyocytes was shown on the sarcolemma, on the junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum and on subsarcolemmal cisternae. The results confirm differences in the localization of cAMP-PDE in dog and rat heart.