Differential response of rat brain polyamines to convulsant agents

The polyamines putrescine (PUT), spermidine (SD) and spermine (SM) have been studied in rat brain after treatment with several convulsant agents. Kainic acid (10 mg/kg), picrotoxinin (1.5 mg/kg), pentylenetetrazol (60 mg/kg) and lindane (gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane) (60 mg/kg) were given to male Wistar rats. Twenty-four hours later, the animals were sacrificed and their brains removed. Cortical polyamines were analyzed by HPLC with fluorimetric detection of their respective dansyl derivatives, using 1,6-diaminohexane as internal standard for the measurements. Polyamine levels are not affected by short periods of time (30 min) of brain exposure to room temperature before freezing the samples, as compared to a quick procedure (less than 40 s from animal death). Kainic acid induced a 14-fold increase of cortical PUT with respect to control values, leaving unchanged the other polyamines. Lindane also increased cortical PUT (4-fold) without affecting SM or SD. Neither picrotoxinin, nor pentylenetetrazol groups were different from controls for any of the polyamines assayed. The results are discussed in relation to the possible mechanism of action of these convulsant agents and the role of the polyamines in cell injury.