title: Transient elevation of intrasynaptosomal free calcium by putrescine.
abstract: The role of polyamines in the regulation of free intrasynaptosomal Ca2+, [Ca2+]i was studied. After preincubation of rat brain synaptosomes with 5 mM difluormethylornithine (DFMO), an irreversible inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase, the K+-induced increase of [Ca2+]i was 33% less than that in non-treated synaptosomes. Putrescine (1 mM) added together with DFMO negated the effect of DFMO suggesting that abnormally low polyamine concentrations were the reason for the diminished K+-response. Putrescine alone did not alter the K+-response to [Ca2+]i. Instead putrescine (0.5 mM) caused a rapid (less than 10 s) transient increase in [Ca2+]i but did not simultaneously increase 45Ca2+ uptake into polarized synaptosomes. Neither spermidine nor spermine (0.5 mM) significantly altered [Ca2+]i. The results suggest that polyamines play a role in the regulation of free intrasynaptosomal Ca2+.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D000518:Eflornithine / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D011700:Putrescine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D013095:Spermidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013096:Spermine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013096:Spermine; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium; D013095:Spermidine; D011700:Putrescine; D000518:Eflornithine