EFFECT OF COLD-EXPOSURE ON POLYAMINE LEVELS AND ORNITHINE DECARBOXYLASE ACTIVITY OF GOLDFISH TISSUES

Goldfish exposed to the cold (5 degrees C) for a week exhibited modifi cations in polyamines metabolism, as shown by the increase of putresci ne levels in liver, heart, muscle and brain, whereas the content of sp ermidine and spermine was unchanged. Putrescine increases in tissues c onsidered were concomitant with a remarkable rise in ornithine decarbo xylase activity. Kinetic analysis of brain enzyme activity showed that the apparent K-m was unchanged by cold exposure, whereas V-max was st rongly increased.