Adenyl cyclase and phosphodiesterase in human cerebral tumors.

Adenyl-cyclase (A-C) and Phosphodiesterase (PDE) behaviour in a large number of human cerebral tumors is reported and compared with that of normal gray and white matter. PDE is much reduced in all oncotypes. Also A-C appears reduced in all tumors except astrocytomas where enzymatic activity is similar to that of gray matter. The Authors tried to explain these changes in activity by relating them to the malignancy of the oncotypes or to their different embryologic origin.