The transcript population of the human gene coding for a cGMP-dependent phosphodiesterase (PDE9A) has a complex structure. There is a high level of mRNA in intestinal and prostate tissues, a low level in blood, and intermediate in other tissues. More than 20 different variants produced by differential splicing have been observed and new exons have been identified both by PCR amplification and by the analysis of available EST sequences. In all cases the transcriptional start site is the same and no differential splicing is found in the exons coding for the catalytic domain of the protein. In some cases the protein produced by splice variants is truncated. The distribution of the splice variants is not homogeneous among the different tissues studied. The human, but not the mouse, PDE9A gene appears to have a complex regulation of expression by different isoforms. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.