Isolation and identification of polyamine metabolites in urine of animals

Fractionation of urinary metabolites of radioactive polyamines in rats yielded four fractions containing (A) non-polar and acidic compounds, (B) acidic and neutral ampholytes, (C) basic ampholytes, (D) polyamines, respectively. A large amount of radioactivity was found in Fractions A and D from rats injected with putrescine, and in Fractions C and D from rats injected with spermidine or spermine. Analysis indicated that gamma-aminobutyric acid, N-monoacetylputrescine, 2(3)-hydroxyputrescine, putreanine, N-(3-aminopropyl)-4-aminobutyric acid (isoputreanine), spermic acid, N-(3-aminopropyl), N'-(2-carboxyethyl)-1,4-diaminobutane, and N-monoacetylspermidines A and B were excreted as urinary metabolites. The possible significance of the findings is discussed.