[Changes in enzyme activity associated with polyamine metabolism in the liver of experimental IUGR rats]

Changes in ODC, SAMDC and SAT activities, the rate limiting enzymes in the polyamine metabolism were measured in the liver of the rat fetuses with experimental intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). The following results were obtained: In IUGR, which was induced by ligation of uterine vessels in one of the two uterine horns at the 17th day of gestation, the weight of the carcass and the liver was significantly reduced. During normal development of the rat fetus, ODC activity in liver of the control group decreased. ODC activity of IUGR liver decreased significantly from the 18th day of gestation compared with that of the control group. SAMDC activity of IUGR liver increased and was significantly greater than that of the control group. Thereafter the activity decreased at a similar rate to that of the control group. SAT activity of IUGR liver decreased significantly from the 18th day of gestation compared with that of the control group. These results suggest that it is suppressed to raise the putrescine level caused by ODC (ornithine----putrescine) and SAT (spermidine----putrescine) in IUGR liver from the viewpoint of polyamine metabolism.