ABSTRACT
Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is the first, usually rate-limiting enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis. Increased ODC activity and elevated polyamine content were found during different types of tissue regeneration appearing in the regenerating organ within hours. Polyamines must have important function in regeneration, most probably in initiating the process. Removal of one kidney results in enlargement of the contralateral one and is referred to as compensatory renal growth. In the remaining kidney unilateral nephrectomy results in biphasic stimulation of ODC activity which is followed by a moderate accumulation of polyamines. The stimulation of ODC activity might be prevented by administration with actinomycin D. Selmeci et al. suggest that alterations of polyamine concentration and nucleic acid content during the late phase of compensatory renal growth are caused by a similar mechanism as in normal kidney growth, but the pattern of alterations in the same parameters occurring in damaged (postischemic) kidney was found quite different.
