• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.173-180
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• 1991

The objective of this experiment was to examine the effect of polyamine depletion by polyamine biosynthesis inhibitors on microbicidal activity and tumoricidal activity in mouse mac-rophages. $\alpha$ -Difluoromethylomithine (DFMO), inhibitor of putrescine and spernidine biosynthesis, treatment in vivo for 6-8 days reduced chemiluminescence levels in thioglycollate-, lipo-polysaccharide (LPS), and BCG-treated mouse macrophages. An DFMO treatment in vitro inhibited production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), in dose-dependent manner, and tumoricidal activity by macrophages. The effect of polyamine depletion by MO on ThF production and tumoricidal activity could be reversed by the addition of exogenous putrescine. These result indicated that the obserbed effect of DFMO on macrophage activities were mediated through inhibition of polyamines are, must be, required for optimal activities of macrophages.