This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Rosenblum, M. G. Articles by Russell, D. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Rosenblum, M. G. Articles by Russell, D. H.

Conjugation of Radiolabeled Polyamines in the Rat¹

Department of Pharmacology, University of Arizona Medical Center, Tucson, Arizona 85724

Initial work reporting elevated polyamine levels in body fluids of cancer patients indicated that a percentage of the polyamine pools was present in conjugated form making hydrolysis necessary for assessment of the total polyamine content in urine and serum. In this paper, we report plasma decay curves for [¹⁴C]polyamines after i.v. administration and the temporal appearance of conjugates. Following the administration of [¹⁴C]polyamines, the radiolabel rapidly disappeared from the plasma in the order: spermidine > putrescine > spermine. Separation of the [¹⁴C]polyamines from conjugated radiolabeled compounds with Dowex chromatography indicated that [¹⁴C]putrescine and [¹⁴C]spermidine were rapidly conjugated, whereas no significant conjugation of spermine was detectable. After neartotal hepatectomy of rats, there was no detectable formation of conjugates, whereas unilateral nephrectomy had little effect on the appearance of conjugates. This suggests that conjugation may take place in the liver. Free putrescine or spermidine could be regenerated from the conjugates by acid hydrolysis, suggesting that the conjugation process does not involve any alteration of the polyamines.

¹ This work was supported by USPHS Grants CA-14783 and CA-17094 from the National Cancer Institute and by American Cancer Society Grant IN-110.

² Recipient of a Research Canceer Development Award CA-00072 from the National Cancer Institute.

Received 6/28/76. Accepted 9/24/76.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N Volkow, S. Goldman, E. Flamm, H Cravioto, A. Wolf, and J. Brodie Labeled putrescine as a probe in brain tumors Science, August 12, 1983; 221(4611): 673 - 675. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D Bartos, F Bartos, R. Campbell, D. Grettie, and P Smejtek Antibody to spermine: a natural biological constituent Science, June 6, 1980; 208(4448): 1178 - 1181. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Rosenblum, B. Durie, R. Beckerman, L. Taussig, and D. Russell Cystic fibrosis: decreased conjugation and excretion of [14C]spermidine Science, June 30, 1978; 200(4349): 1496 - 1497. [Abstract] [PDF]