Rolipram is a selective phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor. It inhibits phosphodiesterase 4 or PDE4, particularly the PDE4B subtype. Like most PDE4-inhibitors, it is an anti-inflammatory drug. Rolipram has been studied as a possible antidepressant. Rolipram also has anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, and anti-tumor effects. Rolipram has also been proposed as a treatment for multiple sclerosis.Animal studies of rolipram show promise in ameliorating Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and also in the regeneration of severed spinal cord axonal bodies. Rolipram is characterized for its emetic and other problematic effects. In this regard, it compares unfavorably to another PDE4-inhibitor, GEBR-7b, whose effect on memory was 3 to 10 times more potent than that of rolipram, and its effective doses had no effect on surrogate measures of emesis in rodents.
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