Polyamines in the basal ganglia of human brain. Influence of aging and degenerative movement disorders

The distribution of polyamines in the human basal ganglia was examined, usi ng dansyl-derivatives and high pressure liquid chromatography with fluorime tric detection. A heterogeneous distribution of putrescine, spermidine (SD) and spermine (SM) was observed in control brains. A consistent negative co rrelation between SD and SM content and age was found in different brain ar eas. These results suggest an involvement of polyamines in age-related chan ges occurring in white-matter, When the influence of degenerative movement disorders -Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease (HD) and progressive s upranuclear palsy-was analyzed, significant changes were observed only in H D, where a decrease in the concentration of SM was found in the putamen. Th ese results suggest that in advanced stages of neurodegenerative processes, polyamines maintain their regulation. Only in the presence of severe atrop hy, SM concentration is reduced. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.