Interrelationships between polyamines and nucleic acids

Summary The distribution of radioactivity from ³H-putrescine was studied in intact and degenerated sciatic nerves, and spinal ganglia of rats by means of high resolution autoradiography. During the first three days after the administration of the labeled putrescine, the main proportion of radioactive material in the nerves was represented by spermidine and putrescine. Both, in intact and degenerating nerves, developed silver grains were deposited in all cellular components of the nervous tissue, the myelin sheath being markedly tagged. Perineural tissue was also labeled considerably, however, there was no significant amount of label in the extracellular space and in the collagen fibrils. The possible physiological significance of putrescine and spermidine in myelin and in other cellular components of nerves is discussed.Herrn Prof. Dr. W. Krücke zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet.