Abstract
The toxicity of spermine and spermidine has been studied in laboratory animals. The toxicity is primarily related to renal tubular necrosis.
Some degree of tolerance to spermine is established on repeated parenteral administration.
A related toxicity has been demonstrated for ethylene- and propylenediamine and ethyleneimine, while monoamines and the longer chained diamines were not nephrotoxic.
The nephrotoxic action of spermine is antagonized by the separate injection of an amine oxidase that degrades spermine and spermidine.
Spermine or spermidine plus amine oxidase, or their incubation mixtures, are highly toxic in vitro to spermatozoa and several species of bacteria, and to a less degree to trypanosomes. Some related amines do not exhibit this toxicity. Some sulfhydryl compounds antagonize this toxicity.
Spermine exerts an antiheparin action and an effect on blood coagulation, similar to protamine.
Footnotes
- Received August 13, 1955.
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