POLYAMINE CYTOCHEMISTRY - LOCALIZATION AND POSSIBLE FUNCTIONS OF POLYAMINES

This chapter illustrates the development of three cytochemical methods for the detection of endogenous spermidine and spermine in situ along with possible physiological implications of their localizations. Spermidine and spermine are quantitatively and functionally most important polyamines in higher eukaryotes. Three different cytochemical methods—the formaldehyde–fluorescamine (FF) method, the OPT method, and immunocytochemistry—have been developed for the localization of endogenous polyamines. All three methods recognize spermidine and spermine and produce identical results in numerous cells and tissues investigated. The cytochemical methods localize polyamines in their native compartments because both fixation techniques used are known to immobilize many other low-molecular-weight compounds in situ and the staining patterns are well localized with no signs of diffusion. These cytochemical methods reveal strong reactivity for polyamines in the cytoplasm of proliferating cells and certain differentiated cell types secreting proteins and peptides. In addition, the cytochemical localization of polyamines indicates that the molecules may have different functions during the cell cycle. © 1992, Academic Press Inc.