Studies on 2', 3'-cyclic AMP 3'-phosphohydrolase in rabbit skin.

Previous studies indicated that 2', 3'-cyclic AMP 3'-phosphohydrolase, an enzyme which splits the 3'-phosphate bond of the 2', 3'-cyclic AMP, is primarily confined to nervous tissue. The physiological function of this enzyme is still unknown. In the present study this enzyme was found to be active in various organs of rabbit, i.e. liver, kidney, heart and skin, although to a much lesser extent than in brain and sciatic nerve. The finding of this enzyme in the skin generated further studies to measure the enzyme activity in normal and diseased skin. Chemically induced (surfactant-treated) skin disorder was used as a model for the present study. Topical application of Polysorbate 85 resulted in a two fold increase of the enzyme activity in rabbit skin. The results suggest that this enzyme may have some role in the repair mechanisms, particularly in the regeneration of damaged membranes.