Analysis of spermidine and spermine in rat liver. Effect of hypophysectomy on polyamine concentrations

Abstract

A simple, rapid, reproducible assay for tissue polyamines using a standard unmodified aminoacid analyzer is described. This technique will allow accurate measurement of the polyamines from as little as 10 mg of liver in less than 1 h. We have used this method to establish the optimum conditions for the extraction of polyamines from liver and to study the effects of hypophysectomy on polyamine content of rat liver. Hypophysectomy caused a fall in RNA, protein, putrescine, and spermidine content per liver cell and prevented the normal increase in spermine in rat liver seen with increasing age.