Clastogenic and cytotoxic effects of spermine oxidation products in mouse lymphoma L5178Y cells.

Treatment of mouse lymphoma L5178Y cells with spermine in Fischer's medium containing bovine serum lead to formation of chromatid aberrations. The cause of this effect seems to be that bovine serum contains spermine oxidase which catalyzes oxidation of spermine to unstable aldehyde derivatives (oxidized spermine) and hydrogen peroxide. Fraction of chromatid aberrations induced by oxidized spermine was estimated in experiments in which the cells were treated with spermine or a stoichiometric amount of hydrogen peroxide in the presence and in the absence of catalase. Cytotoxicity of oxidized spermine was evaluated by clonogenic assay.