Effect of nicotine on lung S-adenosylmethionine and development of Pneumocystis pneumonia

Because S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) is required by Pneumocystis carinii in vitro, Pneumocystis infection depletes plasma AdoMet of rats and humans, nicotine reduces AdoMet of guinea pig lungs, and smoking correlates with reduced episodes of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in AIDS patients, we tested the effect of nicotine treatment on PCP using a rat model. Intraperitoneal infusion of 400 microg of R-(+) nicotine kg(-1) h(-1) intraperitoneal for 21 days caused a 15-fold reduction in lung AdoMet although neither plasma nor liver were changed. Infusion of 4 and 400 microg kg(-1) h(-1) into immunosuppressed rats, beginning when rats were inoculated with P. carinii, caused 85 and 99.88% reductions, respectively, in P. carinii cysts at sacrifice 21 days later; P. carinii nuclei were reduced by 91.2 and >99.99%, respectively. This effect was reversed by concomitant administration of AdoMet with nicotine. Treatment with AdoMet alone increased infection intensity. We conclude that AdoMet is a critical and limiting nutrient for Pneumocystis thus can serve as a therapeutic target for PCP. Regarding the mechanism, nicotine treatment caused no change in rat lung activity of AdoMet synthesizing methionine ATP transferase activity nor was there any evidence of increased AdoMet utilization for methylation reactions. Except of a doubling of putrescine, nicotine treatment also did not change lung polyamine content. However, key polyamine anabolic and catabolic enzymes were upregulated, and there were corresponding changes in polyamine metabolic intermediates. We conclude that chronic nicotine treatment increases lung polyamine catabolic/anabolic cycling and/or excretion leading to increased AdoMet-consuming polyamine biosynthesis and depletion of lung AdoMet.     

Adenovirus type 5 induces progression of quiescent rat cells into S phase without polyamine accumulation.

Adenovirus type 5 induces cellular DNA synthesis and thymidine kinase in quiescent rat cells but does not induce ornithine decarboxylase. We now show that unlike serum, adenovirus type 5 fails to induce S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase or polyamine accumulation. The inhibition by methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) of the induction of thymidine kinase by adenovirus type 5 is probably unrelated to its effects on polyamine biosynthesis. Thus, induction of cellular thymidine kinase and DNA replication by adenovirus type 5 is uncoupled from polyamine accumulation.     

Prolactin stimulation of Nb 2 node lymphoma cell division is inhibited by polyamine biosynthesis inhibitors

The mitogenic action of prolactin in Nb 2 node lymphoma cells was inhibited by two drugs which interfere with polyamine biosynthesis. At concentrations of 0.5 mM and above alpha-difluoromethyl ornithine (DFMO), which inhibits ornithine decarboxylase and the conversion of ornithine to putrescine, significantly attenuated the mitogenic effect of prolactin. This inhibition was prevented by the addition of putrescine, spermidine, or spermine to the culture medium. At concentrations of 1 microM and above methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) (MGBG), which inhibits S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase and hence the conversion of putrescine to spermidine and spermine, abolished the mitogenic action of prolactin. This inhibition was prevented by the addition of spermidine or spermine, but not putrescine, to the culture medium. These studies show that ongoing polyamine biosynthesis is essential for prolactin to express its mitogenic effect in this lymphoma cell line.     

Regulation of polyamine synthesis in human hepatocytes by hepatotrophic factor augmenter of liver regeneration

Different stages of liver regeneration are regulated by a variety of factors such as the liver growth associated protein ALR, augmenter of liver regeneration. Furthermore, small molecules like polyamines were proven to be essential for hepatic growth and regeneration. Therefore, using primary human hepatocytes in vitro we investigated the effect of ALR on the biosynthesis of polyamines. We demonstrated by HPLC analysis that recombinant ALR enhanced intracellular hepatic putrescine, spermidine, and spermine levels within 9-12h. The activation of polyamine biosynthesis was dose dependent with putrescine showing the strongest increase. Additionally, ALR treatment induced mRNA expression of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase, both key enzymes of polyamine biosynthesis. Further, ALR induced c-myc mRNA expression, a regulator of ODC expression, and therefore we assume that ALR exerts its liver regeneration augmenting effects through stimulation of its signalling pathway leading in part to enhanced polyamine synthesis.     

Adjustment of polyamine contents in Escherichia coli.

Adjustment of polyamine contents in Escherichia coli was studied with strains of Escherichia coli producing normal (DR112) and excessive amounts of ornithine decarboxylase [DR112(pODC)] or S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase [DR112(pSAMDC)]. Although DR112(pODC) produced approximately 70 times more ornithine decarboxylase than DR112 did, the amounts of polyamines in the cells of both strains did not change significantly. The amounts of polyamines in DR112(pODC) were adjusted by excretion of excessive amounts of putrescine to the medium. When ornithine was deficient in cells, polyamine contents in DR112(pODC) were much higher than those in DR112, although polyamine contents were low in both strains. This indicates that large amounts of ornithine decarboxylase increased the utilization of ornithine for putrescine synthesis. During ornithine deficiency, strain DR112 produced 3.4 times more ornithine decarboxylase. Strain DR112(pSAMDC) produced seven times more S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase than DR112 did. In DR112(pSAMDC) an increase (40%) in spermidine content, a decrease (35%) in putrescine content, and no significant excretion of putrescine and spermidine were observed. The amount of ornithine decarboxylase in DR112(pSAMDC) was approximately 30% less than that in DR112. In addition, S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase activity was strongly inhibited by spermidine. A possible regulatory mechanism to maintain polyamine contents in Escherichia coli is discussed based on the results.     

Acetylation of decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine by mammalian cells

Decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine was found to be a substrate for the nuclear acetyltransferases that act on polyamines and on histones. The rate of acetylation of decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine was more than twice that of spermidine at saturating substrate concentrations, and decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine was an active inhibitor of the acetylation of histones by nuclear extracts from rat liver. The acetylation of decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine occurred in vivo in SV-3T3 cells exposed to the ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor 2-(difluoromethyl)ornithine. The decline in putrescine and spermidine brought about by exposure to 2-(difluoromethyl)ornithine was found to be accompanied by a large rise in the content of both decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine and acetylated decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine. These results indicate that decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine is metabolized not only in the well-known reactions in which it serves as an aminopropyl donor for polyamine biosynthesis but also by acetylation in reaction with acetyl coenzyme A. Furthermore, the inhibition of histone acetylation by decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine could contribute to the biological effects brought about by inhibitors of ornithine decarboxylase.     

Inhibition of translation of mRNAs for ornithine decarboxylase and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase by polyamines

The effect of spermidine and spermine on the translation of the mRNAs for ornithine decarboxylase and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase was studied using a reticulocyte lysate system and specific antisera to precipitate these proteins. It was found that the synthesis of these key enzymes in the biosynthesis of polyamines was much more strongly inhibited by the addition of polyamines than was either total protein synthesis or the synthesis of albumin. Translation of the mRNA for S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase was maximal in a lysate which had been substantially freed from polyamines by gel filtration. Addition of 80 microM spermine had no significant effect on total protein synthesis and stimulated albumin synthesis but reduced the production of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase by 76%. Similarly, addition of 0.8 mM spermidine reduced the synthesis of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase by 82% while albumin and total protein synthesis were similar to that found in the gel-filtered lysate. Translation of ornithine decarboxylase mRNA was greater in the gel-filtered lysate than in the control lysate but synthesis of ornithine decarboxylase was stimulated slightly by low concentrations of polyamines and was maximal at 0.2 mM spermidine or 20 microM spermine. Higher concentrations were strongly inhibitory with a 70% reduction occurring at 0.8 mM spermidine or 150 microM spermine. Further experiments in which both polyamines were added together confirmed that the synthesis of ornithine and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylases were much more sensitive to inhibition by polyamines than protein synthesis as a whole. These results indicate that an important part of the regulation of polyamine biosynthesis by polyamines is due to a direct inhibitory effect of the polyamines on the translation of mRNA for these biosynthetic enzymes.     

Regulation of polyamine biosynthesis in tobacco. Effects of inhibitors and exogenous polyamines on arginine decarboxylase, ornithine decarboxylase, and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase

Treatment of tobacco liquid suspension cultures with methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) (MGBG) an inhibitor of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase, resulted in a dramatic overproduction of a 35-kDa peptide on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (Malmberg, R.L., and McIndoo, J. (1983) Nature 305, 623-625). MGBG treatment also resulted in a 20-fold increase in the activity of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase. Purification of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase from MGBG-treated cultures revealed that the overproduced 35-kDa peptide and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase are identical. Precursor incorporation experiments using [3H] methionine and [35S]methionine revealed that MGBG does not induce any increased synthesis of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase but rather stabilizes the protein to proteolytic degradation. The half-life of the enzyme activity was increased when MGBG was present in the growth medium. In addition to stabilizing S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase, MGBG also resulted in the rapid and specific loss of arginine decarboxylase activity with little effect ornithine decarboxylase. The kinetics of this effect suggest that arginine decarboxylase synthesis was rapidly inhibited by MGBG. Exogenously added polyamines had little effect on ornithine decarboxylase, whereas S-adenosylmethionine and arginine decarboxylase activities rapidly diminished with added spermidine or spermine. Finally, inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase was lethal to the cultures, whereas inhibition of arginine decarboxylase was only lethal during initiation of growth in suspension culture.     

The effects of nerve growth factor on polyamine metabolism in PC12 cells

Nerve growth factor treatment produces a large increase in the activity of ornithine decarboxylase and a moderate decrease in the activity of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase in PC12 cells. These changes are reflected weakly, if at all, in the levels of putrescine, spermidine, and spermine in the cells. The rates of polyamine synthesis are increased somewhat more than the overall levels, but still are not comparable in extent to the increase in the ornithine decarboxylase activity. Inhibitors of ornithine decarboxylase and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase have their expected effects on the induction of ornithine decarboxylase and on the activities of both enzymes. Neither inhibitor alone, nor a combination of inhibitors, altered the rate or extent of nerve growth factor-induced neurite outgrowth in the cells.     

ODC,AdoMetDC双反义腺病毒对肺癌增殖和侵袭制作用的体外和体内研究

鸟氨酸脱羧酶(ODC)和S-甲硫氨酸脱羧酶(AdoMetDC)是多胺体内合成的2个关键酶.研究腺病毒Ad-ODC-AdoMetDCas介导的ODC和AdoMetDC反义RNA对肺癌多胺合成,细胞增殖以及侵袭的抑制作用.用活细胞计数和流式细胞术分别检测Ad-ODCas和Ad-ODC-AdoMetDCas对肺癌A-549细胞增殖的影响,蛋白质印迹和HPLC方法分别检测腺病毒对肺癌A-549细胞中ODC和AdoMetDC蛋白表达以及胞内多胺含量的抑制作用,TUNEL标记检测法观察Ad-ODC-AdoMetDCas对肺癌细胞凋亡的影响,Matrigel侵袭实验分析腺病毒对肺癌A-549细胞侵袭活性的改变,裸鼠皮下移植瘤模型研究Ad-ODC-AdoMetDCas对体内肺癌生长的抑制作用.实验结果显示,Ad-ODC-AdoMetDCas明显抑制肺癌A-549细胞的增殖,导致细胞凋亡,显著降低肺癌A-549细胞的体外侵袭能力,肺癌A-549细胞感染Ad-ODC-AdoMetDCas后细胞内3种多胺含量都明显降低,Ad-ODC-AdoMetDCas对已形成的裸鼠皮下移植瘤具有明显的抑制作用.实验表明,ODC和AdoMetDC双反义腺病毒具有显著抑制肺癌增殖和侵袭的作用,对于肺癌的防治研究具有一定的前景.     

Spermine and gene methylation: a mechanism of lifespan extension induced by polyamine-rich diet

The polyamines spermidine and spermine are synthesized in almost all organisms and are also contained in food. Polyamine synthesis decreases with aging, but no significant decrease in polyamine concentrations were found in organs, tissues, and blood of adult animals and humans. We found that healthy dietary patterns were associated with a preference for polyamine-rich foods, and first reported that increased polyamine intake extended the lifespan of mice and decreased the incidence of colon cancer induced by repeated administration of moderate amounts of a carcinogen. Recent investigations have revealed that changes in DNA methylation status play an important role in lifespan and aging-associated pathologies. The methylation of DNA is regulated by DNA methyltransferases in the presence of S-adenosylmethionine. Decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine, converted from S-adenosylmethionine by S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase, provides an aminopropyl group to synthesize spermine and spermidine and acts to inhibit DNMT activity. Long-term increased polyamine intake were shown to elevate blood spermine levels in mice and humans. In vitro studies demonstrated that spermine reversed changes induced by the inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase (e.g., increased decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine, decreased DNA methyltransferase activity, increased aberrant DNA methylation), whose activity decreases with aging. Further, aged mice fed high-polyamine chow demonstrated suppression of aberrant DNA methylation and a consequent increase in protein levels of lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1, which plays a pivotal role on inflammatory process. This review discusses the relation between polyamine metabolism and DNA methylation, as well as the biological mechanism of lifespan extension induced by increased polyamine intake.     

ODC, AdoMetDC双反义腺病毒对肺癌增殖和侵袭抑制作用的体外和体内研究

鸟氨酸脱羧酶(ODC)和S-甲硫氨酸脱羧酶(AdoMetDC)是多胺体内合成的2个关键酶.研究腺病毒Ad-ODC-AdoMetDCas介导的ODC和AdoMetDC反义RNA对肺癌多胺合成,细胞增殖以及侵袭的抑制作用.用活细胞计数和流式细胞术分别检测Ad-ODCas和Ad-ODC-AdoMetDCas对肺癌A-549细胞增殖的影响,蛋白质印迹和HPLC方法分别检测腺病毒对肺癌A-549细胞中ODC和AdoMetDC蛋白表达以及胞内多胺含量的抑制作用,TUNEL标记检测法观察Ad-ODC-AdoMetDCas对肺癌细胞凋亡的影响,Matrigel侵袭实验分析腺病毒对肺癌A-549细胞侵袭活性的改变,裸鼠皮下移植瘤模型研究Ad-ODC-AdoMetDCas对体内肺癌生长的抑制作用.实验结果显示,Ad-ODC-AdoMetDCas明显抑制肺癌A-549细胞的增殖,导致细胞凋亡,显著降低肺癌A-549细胞的体外侵袭能力,肺癌A-549细胞感染Ad-ODC-AdoMetDCas后细胞内3种多胺含量都明显降低,Ad-ODC-AdoMetDCas对已形成的裸鼠皮下移植瘤具有明显的抑制作用.实验表明,ODC和AdoMetDC双反义腺病毒具有显著抑制肺癌增殖和侵袭的作用,对于肺癌的防治研究具有一定的前景.     

Regulation of polyamine synthesis and transport by retinoic acid and epidermal growth factor in cultured adult rat type II pneumocytes

During injury of lung epithelial cells, the type II pneumocyte proliferates and differentiates into a type I pneumocyte to restore the epithelium. Polyamines, which constitute a family of small organic polycations, are required for this process of cell repair. Because retinoic acid (RA) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) also are involved, the purpose of this research was to determine their effect on polyamine transport and synthesis in cultured type II pneumocytes. Rat type II pneumocytes were isolated, cultured overnight, and treated with RA and/or EGF for 24 hours. Polyamine transport was determined by [(3)H]spermidine uptake, and polyamine synthesis was assessed by the activity of the initial rate-limiting enzyme ornithine decarboxylase. EGF (100 ng/mL) significantly increased spermidine transport, but RA did not. At low concentrations of spermidine (2 microM), the combined effect of RA and EGF on spermidine transport was additive. Both EGF (25 ng/mL) and RA (1 microM) increased polyamine synthesis, and cotreatment resulted in an additive effect (a fourfold increase over the control). We also found that ornithine decarboxylase activity is greatly diminished in the presence of tyrphostin B56, which is a specific inhibitor for the tyrosine kinase of the EGF receptor, suggesting that polyamine synthesis within the type II pneumocyte may depend on activation of tyrosine kinase of the EGF receptor. These results indicate that RA and EGF increase the availability of polyamines, which may be important in the lung cell repair process.     

Regulation of thyroid ornithine decarboxylase by the polyamines. Induction of a protein inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase by the end-products of the reaction

When spermidine, putrescine or 1,3-diaminopropane was injected (12.5 mumol/100 g body weight) into rats 1 h before thyrotropin, ornithine decarboxylase activity was increased by 75--150% over control levels. However, when greater than or equal to 75 mumol polyamine/100 g body weight was injected, thyrotropin-activated activity was inhibited by 70--95%. Multiple polyamine injections inhibited goitrogen-induced activity and gland weight increase by approx 35%. The polyamines also inhibited thyrotropin-activated rat thyroid ornithine decarboxylase in vitro in a dose-related fashion, with 50% inhibition occurring at 2--5 . 10(-4)M. The inhibition was not due to a direct effect on the enzyme. No stimulation was seen with low concentrations of polyamine. The polyamines had no effect on in vitro thyroid protein/RNA synthesis or glucose oxidation but had a biphasic effect on plasma membrane adenylate cyclase activity. A protein inhibitor to thyroid ornithine decarboxylase was generated in vivo by multiple injections of the polyamines into rats and in vitro by incubating bovine thyroid slices with 2--10 mM polyamine. The inhibitor was non-dialyzable, destroyed by boiling, and its formation was blocked in a dose-related fashion by cycloheximide. We conclude that: (1) thyroid ornithine decarboxylase is subject not only to positive control, but is also negatively regulated by its end-products, the polyamines, which induce a protein inhibitor to ornithine decarboxylase; (2) since gland growth is also inhibited under these conditions, the polyamine effect on thyroid ornithine decarboxylase may be biologically significant.     

Inhibition of enzymes of polyamine biosynthesis by substrate-like O-substituted hydroxylamines

The biogenic amines spermine, spermidine, and putrescine are essential factors of cell growth and differentiation. To inhibit pyridoxal-5"-phosphate dependent ornithine decarboxylase and pyruvate dependent S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase, key enzymes of polyamine biosynthesis, a system of substrate-like O-substituted hydroxylamines is suggested. The best of these compounds were active at nanomolar concentrations. High potency and specificity of this type of inhibitors are discussed in terms of structural similarity of E–I and E–S complexes.     

Effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D on S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase in chick intestine

The effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D on the activity of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase in the duodenal mucosa of vitamin D-deficient chicks was investigated. Enzyme activity increased dose-dependently in a biphasic manner with maximal responses at 1 and 6 h, due to an increase in Vmax in both cases. A second dose of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, administered 6 h after the first, resulted in a significant increase in activity 1 h later, confirming the rapidity of the response. This early response was not seen with ornithine decarboxylase. The increase in S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase activity particularly at 6 h may be due to a rise in cytosolic calcium, since hydrocortisone, an inhibitor of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-stimulated calcium absorption, attenuates this enzyme's activity. Inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis such as DL-alpha-difluoromethyl ornithine and methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) had no effect on calcium absorption, but the significance of this in evaluating the importance of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D stimulation of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase activity needs further investigation.     

S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase degradation by the 26 S proteasome is accelerated by substrate-mediated transamination

The short-lived enzyme S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase uses a covalently bound pyruvoyl cofactor to catalyze the formation of decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine, which then donates an aminopropyl group for polyamine biosynthesis. Here we demonstrate that S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase is ubiquitinated and degraded by the 26 S proteasome in vivo, a process that is accelerated by inactivation of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase by substrate-mediated transamination of its pyruvoyl cofactor. Proteasome inhibition in COS-7 cells prevents the degradation of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase antigen; however, even brief inhibition of the 26 S proteasome caused substantial losses of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase activity despite accumulation of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase antigen. Levels of the enzyme's substrate (S-adenosylmethionine) increased rapidly after 26 S proteasome inhibition, and this increase in substrate level is consistent with the observed loss of activity arising from an increased rate of inactivation by substrate-mediated transamination. Evidence is also presented that this substrate-mediated transamination accelerates normal degradation of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase, as the rate of degradation of the enzyme was increased in the presence of AbeAdo (5'-([(Z)-4-amino-2-butenyl]methylamino]-5'-deoxyadenosine) (a substrate analogue that transaminates the enzyme); conversely, when the intracellular substrate level was reduced by methionine deprivation, the rate of degradation of the enzyme was decreased. Ubiquitination of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase is demonstrated by isolation of His-tagged AdoMetDC (S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase) from COS-7 cells co-transfected with hemagglutinin-tagged ubiquitin and showing bands that were immunoreactive to both anti-AdoMetDC antibody and anti-hemagglutinin antibody. This is the first study to demonstrate that AdoMetDC is ubiquitinated and degraded by the 26 S proteasome, and substrate-mediated acceleration of degradation is a unique finding.     

Inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase synthesis by antisense oligodeoxynucleotides

Oligodeoxynucleotides 18 nucleotides in length having sequences complementary to regions spanning the initiation codon regions of ornithine decarboyxlase or S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase mRNAs were tested for their ability to inhibit translation of these mRNAs. In reticulocyte lysates, a strong and dose dependent reduction of ornithine decarboyxlase synthesis in response to mRNA from D-R L1210 cells was brought about by 5-AAAGCT GCTCATGGTTCT-3 which is complementary to the sequence from - 6 to + 12 of the mRNA sequence but there was no inhibition by 5-TGCAGCTTCCATCACCGT-3. Conversely, the latter oligodeoxynucleotide which is complementary to the sequence from – 6 to + 12 of the mRNA of S-adenosyl methionine decarboxylase was a strong inhibitor of the synthesis of this enzyme in response to rat prostate mRNA and the antisense sequence from ornithine decarboxylase had no effect. The translation of ornithine decarboxylase mRNA in a wheat germ system was inhibited by the antisense oligodeoxynucleotide at much lower concentration than those needed in the reticulocyte lysate suggesting that degradation of the hybrid by ribonuclease H may be an important factor in this inhibition. These results indicate that such oligonucleotides may be useful to regulate cellular polyamine levels and as probes to study control of mRNA translation.Abbreviations ODC ornithine decarboxylase - AdoMetDC S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase - DFMO difluoromethylornithine     

Regulations of thyroid decarboxylase by the polyamines Induction of a protein inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase by the end-products of the reaction

When spermdine, putrescine or 1,3-diaminopropane was injected (12.5 μmol/100 g body weight) into rats i h before thyrotropin, ornithine decarboxylase activity was increased by 75–150% over control levels. However, when 75 μmol polyamine/100 g body weight was injected, thyrotropin-activated activity was inhibited by 70–95%. Multiple polyamine injections inhibited goitrogen-induced activity and gland weight increase by approx. 35%.The polyamines also inhibited thyrotrophin-activated rat thyroid ornithine decarboxylase in vitro in a dose-related fashion, with 50% inhibition occurring at 2–5 · 10⁻⁴ M. The inhibition was not due to a direct effect on the enzyme. No stimulation was seen with low concentration of polyamine. The polyamines had no effect on in vitro thyroid protein/RNA synthesis or glucose oxidation but had a biphasic effect on plasma membrane adenylate cyclase activity.A protein inhibitor to thyroid ornithine decarboxylase was generated in vivo by multiple injections of the polyamines into rats, and in vitro by incubating bovine thyroid slices with 2–10 mM polyamine. The inhibitor was non-dialyzable, destroyed by boiling, and its formation was blocked in a dose-related fashion by cycloheximide.We conclude that: (1) thyroid ornithine decarboxylase is subject not only to positive control, but is also negatively regulated by its end-products, the polyamines, which induce a protein inhibitor to ornithine decarboxylase; (2) since gland growth is also inhibited under these conditions, the polyamine effect on thyroid ornithine decarboxylase may be biologically significant.     

Differential effects of 2-difluoromethylornithine and methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) on the testosterone-induced growth of ventral prostate and seminal vesicles of castrated rats

2-Difluoromethylornithine totally prevented any increases in putrescine and spermidine concentrations in the ventral prostate of castrated rats during a 6-day testosterone treatment. Prostatic ornithine decarboxylase activity was inhibited by 80%, whereas S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase was stimulated by more than 9-fold. In seminal vesicle, the inhibition of putrescine and spermidine accumulation, as well as of ornithine decarboxylase activity, was only minimal, and no stimulation of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase was observed. Administration of methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) to castrated androgen-treated rats resulted in a marked increase in concentrations of all prostatic polyamines. Prostatic ornithine decarboxylase activity was nearly 2 times and adenosylmethionine decarboxylase activity 9 times higher than that of the testosterone-treated animals. In contrast with ventral prostate, methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) treatment inhibited moderately the accumulation of spermidine and spermine in seminal vesicle, although both ornithine decarboxylase and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase activities were stimulated. Difluoromethylornithine inhibited significantly the weight gain of ventral prostate, but methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) produced a substantial increase in prostatic weight. These changes were largely due to the fact that the volume of prostatic secretion was greatly decreased by difluoromethylornithine, whereas methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) increased the amount of secretion. Treatment with difluoromethylornithine strikingly increased the methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) content of both ventral prostate and seminal vesicle, but even under these conditions the drug concentration remained low in comparison with other tissues. The results indicate that a combined use of these two polyamine anti-metabolites does not necessarily result in a synergistic growth inhibition of the androgen-induced growth of male accessory sexual glands.