[Polyamines in normal human blood cell proteins and in leukosis]

Content of putrescine, spermidine and spermine was estimated in leukocytes of healthy persons and of patients with various forms of leukoses. Spermine was the main component of the polyamine fraction in leukocytes; only small amount of putrescine was found. In leukoses, as the cell population rejuvenated, content of polyamines increased with elevation in the ratio spermidine/spermine approaching the maximal value in blast cells of blood from patients with acute leukosis.