The early history of polyamine research.

In 1678 Antonie van Leeuwenhoek identified crystalline substances in human semen. The structure of these crystals, named "spermine", was not elucidated by Rosenheim until 250 years later. Subsequently a triamine (spermidine) and a diamine (putrescine; 1,4-diaminobutane) were isolated from prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems.

Antiviral activity of oxidized polyamines.

Polyamines, oxidized by serum amine oxidase, yield aminoaldehydes and hydrogen peroxide. Acrolein may be formed from the aminoaldehydes by a spontaneous beta-elimination process. These oxidation products "oxidized polyamines" inhibit bacterial growth and exhibit anticancer activity.

Naturally occurring polyamines: interaction with macromolecules.

The naturally occurring polyamines, spermine [NH2(CH2)3NH(CH2)4NH(CH2)3NH2] and spermidine [NH2(CH2)3NH(CH2)4NH2], as well as the diamine putrescine [NH2(CH2)4NH2], are widely spread in nature. They occur in plants, micro-organisms and animal tissues and fulfil many important physiological functions. Due to their cationic nature they interact with negatively charged macromolecules such nucleic acids, phospholipids and proteins.

Immunohistochemical detection of ornithine decarboxylase as a measure of chemosensitivity testing.

The development of reliable methods for the in vitro testing of sensitivity of cancer cells to various drugs has been a longstanding objective in cancer treatment. The development of individualized chemotherapy could minimize undesired toxic side effects and increase the chance of recovery. The known methods for in vitro chemosensitivity tests are mainly based on monitoring the metabolic changes induced in cancer cells by the drugs.