Dibutyryl-cAMP, sodium salt is an analog of cyclic AMP that stimulates PKA (cAMP-dependent protein kinase). Dibutyryl-cAMP has been shown not to effect cAMP levels, gap junction communication or cumulus expansion in cumulus-oocyte complexes. Research shows that dibutyryl-cAMP can stimulate the activity of Na+, K+-ATPase (Na+,K+-pump), bring about morphological differentiation of astrocytes, and block contraction of vas deferens in rat studies. Additionally, other studies show that Dibutyryl-cAMP can upregulate Nur77 expression through modification of histones during neurite outgrowth in PC-12 cells, and regulate the mRNA levels of Dp71 and dystrophin in rat brain astrocytes.