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Glucocorticoid Regulation of Spermidine Acetylation in the Rat Brain
Author(s) -
Ientile Riccardo,
Luca Grazia,
Giorgio Rosa Maria,
Macaione Salvatore
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1988.tb01797.x
Subject(s) - endocrinology , medicine , ornithine decarboxylase , spermidine , putrescine , spermine , corticosterone , glucocorticoid , adenosylmethionine decarboxylase , polyamine , biology , mineralocorticoid , hippocampus , chemistry , biochemistry , enzyme , hormone
The effect of glucocorticoids on polyamine metabolism has been elucidated further by measuring putres‐cine, spermidine, and spermine levels as well as ornithine decarboxylase, S ‐adenosylmethionine decarboxylase, and N 1 ‐acetylspermidine transferase activities in the hippocampus, cerebellar cortex, vermis, and deep nuclei of adre‐nalectomized rats. At 6 h after corticosterone or dexameth‐asone administration, the specific activities of ornithine decarboxylase and N 1 ‐acetylspermidine transferase showed the greatest increases in all brain tissues examined, and at 12 h, S ‐adenosylmethionine decarboxylase activity was not increased significantly. The hippocampus and cerebellar regions displayed different responses to corticosterone and dexamethasone, corresponding to the distribution of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors. Corticosterone and dexamethasone increased ornithine decarboxylase and N 1 ‐acetylspermidine transferase activities in a dose‐dependent manner, with dexamethasone being more active than corticosterone in all tissues. However, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, and aldosterone were only active at doses >5 mg/kg. The great increases in ornithine decarboxylase and N 1 ‐acetylspermidine transferase activities were accompanied by a marked increase in putrescine level and a small decrease in spermidine level. Our data confirm that the hippocampus and cerebellum are glucocorticoid target tissues and suggest that the increase in the content of putrescine, following acute treatment with glucocorticoids, is dependent on ornithine decarboxylase as well as N 1 ‐ acetylspermidine transferase induction.