Studies on the in Vitro Uptake of Polyamines by Girardi Heart Cells

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Abstract
The polyamines spermine and spermidine and their biosynthetic precursor, the diamine putrescine, are widely distributed in biological tissues. Their exact physiological role is not known, but many observations indicate that they are connected with growth processes. The uptake of spermine and spermidine in human heart CCL 27 cells in culture was studied. Spermidine was accumulated to a higher degree than spermine, whereas more spermine was absorbed to the cell surface. The uptake of spermidine and spermine is evidently mediated by a common carrier. Spermine also enters the cells by several other transport mechanisms. The accumulated polyamines were not removed by washing with spermine or spermidine solutions, but they were released by treatment of the cells with butanol.