[Effect of polyamines on the cellular radiation reaction]

The influence of polyamines (e.g. putrescine, spermine and spermidine) on the survival rate of HeLa cells and the mitotic index of A. cepa meristem cells, as well as a change in a radiation response of cells under the effect of polyamines have been investigated. Putrescine was shown to produce the lowest cytotoxic effect on mammalian cells, whereas the cytotoxic effect on plant cells was either insignificant or absent at all. One-hour incubation of HeLa cells with putrescine of 5 x 10(-4)-5 x 10(-5) M prior to or after irradiation with a dose of 6 Gy increased the survived cell fraction. Spermine of 10(-3) M increased considerably the mitotic index of the exposed meristem as compared to irradiated meristem untreated with spermine. The role of polyamines in the formation of radiation damage to a cell is discussed.