Determination of Polyamines (Spermine, Spermidine, Putrescine) in Biological Samples

Abstract

It has now been established that polyamines are involved in the process of cell growth and maturation.^1,2 The measurement of polyamines in pathotological tissue specimens can be useful in the diagnosis of cancers and in the assessment of anticancer treatments.³,⁴ There is increasing evidence that polyamines, where they play an important role in the central nervous system, could be intracellular messengers in Ca²⁺ dependent release of neurotransmitters.⁵ A “neurotransmitters” or “neuromodulators” role for spermine has also been discussed.⁶ Relations are even more evident between polyamines and aminobutyric acid (GABA), and some agents which modify the metabolism of GABA also modify the concentration of putrescine.^7,8 This method, employing HPLC and electrochemical detection, has been developed to quantify polyamines in the different brain fractions. It will be useful initially, to determine physiological concentrations in small areas of mouse brain and later to correlate these concentrations with pharmacological effects of psychotropic drugs.