Effect of exogenously applied polyamines on malathion toxicity in the toad Bufo arenarum Hensel.

The polyamines putrescine, spermidine, and spermine, are able to potentiate the toxicity of malathion in Bufo arenarum Hensel toad larvae. This action is synergistic and maximal with spermidine, which elevated up to 13-fold the mortality produced by this organophosphorus compound. Spermidine increased the degree of inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity elicited by malathion, and impaired the recovery of this activity at the end of the treatment. Spermidine had no effect on the enzyme when applied alone. Toxic effects were also observed with the polyamines themselves when applied at concentrations similar to the intracellular levels described for rapid-growing organisms.