Effect of inhibitors of enzymes involved in polyamine biosynthesis pathway on pregnancy in mouse and hamster

The syntheses of polyamines, which play a definitive role in cell proliferation and tissue growth during early embryogenesis, are believed to be principally regulated by two enzymes: ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and polyamine oxidase (PAO). However, when the level of enzyme ODC goes down, another enzyme known as S-adenosyl methyl decarboxylase (SAMDC) is believed to up-regulate the biosynthetic pathway. In the present study, the effects of inhibitors of enzymes SAMDC and PAO were determined in mated hamster and mouse in peri- and immediate postimplantation stages of pregnancy. It was noticed that, whereas the SAMDC inhibitor (MDL-73815) failed to arrest the pregnancy in the hamster in spire of raising the dose to 100 mg/kg, the PAO inhibitor (MDL-72527DA) was found to be 100% effective at 75 mg/kg in both species. The results confirmed the role of enzyme PAO in promoting early development of the embryo. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.