THE DETERMINATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF POLYAMINES IN MAMMALIAN NERVOUS SYSTEM.

A method for the determination of spermidine and spermine in nervous tissue is described. The method consists in separation of polyamines from other basic compounds on an ion exchange resin, followed by isolation of spermidine and spermine by ion exchange chromatography and quantification of the amines by reaction with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene. The specificity of the method was confirmed by paper chromatography, electrophoresis and by the isolation of spermine and spermidine. The distribution of spermine and spermidine was examined in the central nervous system and in a peripheral nerve. Completely different distributions were found of these two amines; a higher concentration of spermine was found in the gray matter while spermidine was preponderant in the white matter and peripheral nerve.