Reversal of alpha-difluoromethylornithine inhibition of caerulein-induced pancreatic growth by putrescine.
The role of ornithine decarboxylase and of polyamines was investigated on caerulein-induced pancreatic growth through the use of alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) and putrescine. Caerulein, the cholecystokinin analog, given at a dose of 1 microgram . kg-1 three times a day was associated with pancreatic hyperplasia and hypertrophy after 2 and 4 days of treatment. The present study shows that putrescine, given once daily i.p. at a dose of 300 mumol . kg-1, can reverse the previously observed DFMO inhibition on pancreatic DNA content increments stimulated by caerulein. It was also observed that putrescine inhibits severely the 2-day caerulein-induced pancreatic hypertrophy, yet interferes only moderately with 4 days of caerulein treatment. These data lend further support to the involvement of ornithine decarboxylase and polyamines in induced pancreatic growth.
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002108:Ceruletide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004247:DNA / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D000518:Eflornithine; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D009952:Ornithine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D065108:Ornithine Decarboxylase Inhibitors; D010179:Pancreas / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011700:Putrescine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D065108:Ornithine Decarboxylase Inhibitors; D002108:Ceruletide; D004247:DNA; D009952:Ornithine; D011700:Putrescine; D000518:Eflornithine