Release of polyamines in cultures of rat parotid and liver cells

Rat parotid gland and liver cells were cultured for 6 and 24 h. The cells as well as their growth medium were analyzed on their content of the polyamines putrescine, spermidine and spermine. In control medium the content of polyamines was very low but already after 6 h substantial amounts of all three polyamines under study had been released into the medium from parotid as well as from liver cells. The release was much more pronounced from parotid compared to liver cells. Putrescine was accumulated in parotid cells as well as in the medium indicating that a new synthesis of this amine occurred in these cells.