The role of polyamine reutilization in depletion of cellular stores of polyamines in non-proliferating tissues.

It was known from previous work that specific inhibition of neither ornithine decarboxylase activity nor polyamine oxidase activity produces spermidine depletion by more than 20% in non-growing organs, which are in a steady state with regard to polyamine metabolism. Combined treatment with inactivators of both ornithine decarboxylase and polyamine oxidase for a prolonged time caused, however, a gradual decrease of spermidine levels in liver, kidney and brain of mice by 50% and more. The method is in accordance with the previously suggested role of polyamine interconversion. Inhibition of polyamine oxidase prevents the reutilization for de novo polyamine biosynthesis of putrescine and spermidine, which are formed by oxidative splitting of N1-acetylspermine and N1-acetylspermidine, respectively, and the ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor prevents the compensatory increase of putrescine from ornithine. The findings are further evidence for the physiological significance of polyamine reutilization.