Rise and fall of cyclic AMP required for onset of lymphocyte DNA synthesis.

The adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) levels of mouse lymphocytes rose and fell sharply 10 hours after stimulation with concanavalin A. Treatment of the cells with indomethacin reversibly prevented the increase in cyclic AMP and the subsequent onset of DNA synthesis. When the heightened cyclic AMP before S phase was maintained by either inhibiting phosphodiesterase or by adding the 8-bromo derivative of cyclic AMP, DNA synthesis was also blocked. Both the increase and decrease in cyclic AMP appear to be required for progression of lymphocytes into the S phase of growth.