Effects of receptor agonists on polyamine concentrations and spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase activity in rat parotid gland

The polyamine putrescine might be formed via a degradation (catalyzed by spermidine/spermine N¹-acetyltransferase, SSAT) of the higher polyamines spermidine and spermine to putrescine. The involvement of different intracellular signal pathways in the regulation of putrescine formation was studied in explants and in cultured cells of rat parotid glands by using receptor agonists that activate separate second messenger systems, and measuring their effects on the concentrations of putrescine, spermidine and spermine and on the SSAT activity. The -adrenoceptor agonist isoprenaline, which is an activator of cAMP formation, increased the putrescine concentration and stimulated the SSAT activity. Pilocarpine, a drug that activates the muscarinic receptors and thereby enhances the phosphoinositide turnover, had no effect on either the polyamine concentrations or on the SSAT activity. Epidermal growth factor (EGF), which induces activation of a protein tyrosine kinase, had no effect on the polyamine concentrations or on the SSAT activity. The adenylate cyclase activator forskolin increased the glandular levels of putrescine. Taken together, these findings suggest that increases in putrescine concentration in cultured rat parotid gland cells are accompanied by accumulation of cAMP.