Diminished excretion of polyamines from BHK-21/C13 cells exposed to methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone).

Methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) (1,1'-[methylethanediylidine)dinitrilo]diguanidine) inhibited the growth of BHK-21/C13 cells in monolayer cultures. Accumulation of spermidine and spermine was inhibited, whereas the accumulation of putrescine was increased. The intracellular spermidine/spermine molar ratio decreased conly slightly after exposure of the cells to 20 micrometer-methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) for 1 day. Cells incubated in the presence of the drug released less polyamine into the culture medium that did control cells, the polyamine released consisting almost exclusively of spermidine, both free and as a conjugated form.