[mod_python] Apache, Threading and Multi-Processing Modules

I'm trying to understand Apache and mod_python in order to understand 
how to approach the design of some fairly generic concepts with regard 
to database backed, web front ended applications.
Let me start by saying everything I say assumes Apache 2 and mod_python 
3.0.3 currently.

Apache has a number of modes of operation when it comes to threading and 
forking, I would like to understand how these things interact with 
Python subinterpreters 
[http://www.modpython.org/live/current/doc-html/pyapi-interps.html] and 
issues such as the Python global interpreter lock (GIL) 
[http://www.python.org/doc/current/api/threads.html].

For example, on a Windows platform where there is a single 
multi-threaded Apache process (mpm_wint 
[http://httpd.apache.org/docs-2.0/mod/mpm_winnt.html]) is it correct to 
say that mod_python would not be able to take advantage of a 
multi-processor machine due to the GIL?

In another, given Apache running in the prefork MPM 
[http://httpd.apache.org/docs-2.0/mod/prefork.html]- is it a) possible 
or b) useful to have a global, per-Apache-process persitant data 
strucuture sharing a pool of (threadsafe) database connections. I would 
say not useful since that process will only ever be running a single 
mod_python request at a time - hence more than one item in the pool 
would be useless. Given the "worker MPM" 
[http://httpd.apache.org/docs-2.0/mod/worker.html] however it may be 
useful but it's not clear to me if it would be possible.

Taking the specific example of database connections (let me note I have 
read and believe I understand FAQ 3.3) is it ever useful or possible to 
share a pool of database connectors, rather than a single connector in 
the global namespace. I assume that code such as that in FAQ 3.3 would 
require additional locking mechanisms in order to function correctly in 
a multi-threaded Apache environment?

I bet there must be some code in existing projects that does stuff like 
this. Any pointers?

Maybe I'm confusing myself at the moment - maybe some other people as 
well ;-)

Thanks in advance,
	Paul