Modification of ornithine decarboxylase activity by adrenergic stimulation in cultured chicken spleen cells

1. In vivo, adrenergic agonists promote an increase of ornithine decarboxylase activity (ODC) in chicken spleen, as opposed to a decrease in thymus and bursa of Fabricius. The increase is not due to the cell fraction separated on Lymphoprep, i.e. the spleen cells, but it could be due to the macrophages. 2. With spleen cells in culture, a marked increase of ODC activity is observed during the first 3 hr, followed by a decrease. 3. cAMP drastically decreases after 10 min in culture. 4. Adrenergic agonists promote a decrease of activity, both alpha and beta receptors being involved in these modifications. TPA promotes partial desensitization. 5. Selenite, which in vivo has the same effect as epinephrine, enhances ODC activity in culture. Propranolol partially counteracts this effect, while prazosin has a synergistic effect. TPA partially desensitizes spleen cells to selenite.