text: Cyclic AMP-phosphodiesterase and epidermal mitosis.
  The relationship between cyclic AMP-phosphodiesterase (cAMP-PDE) inhibition and inhibition of epidermal mitosis was examined for several compounds using a soluble, low Km PDE activity from hairless mouse skin and the G2 mouse ear mitosis assay. Orders of potency determined at IC50 levels (concentrations required for 50% inhibition) were SQ 20009 greater than RO 20-1724 greater than papaverine greater than bufexamac greater than indomethacin greater than theophylline greater than p-biphenylylacetic acid greater than or less than glycyrrhetinic acid for inhibition of both PDE and mitosis. The disproportionately high antimitotic potency of puromycin relative to PDE inhibition was believed to reflect effects on protein biosynthesis. Activity of the three nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (bufexamac, indomethacin, and p-biphenylylacetic acid) was unrelated to their effect on prostaglandin synthesis in homogenates of hairless mouse skin. The results suggest that the epidermal antimitotic activity of the compounds tested is related to their inhibition of cAMP-PDE and provide additional support for cAMP as a regulator of the G2 stage of the epidermal cell cycle.