Abstract
Confluent monolayers of BHK-21/C13 cells excreted increasing amounts of polyamines into the extracellular medium with time. Excretion was specifically of spermidine and was not the result of cell death or lysis. Herpes simplex virus type 1 completely prevented excretion of polyamines from 2 h after infection of the cells. The virus specifically inhibited the release of free spermidine but not of conjugated polyamines.