Analysis of polyamines and acetyl derivatives by a single automated amino acid analyzer technique.

In a single, rapid and precise analysis, monoacetylputrescine, N8-acetylspermidine, N1-acetylspermidine, putrescine, spermidine, and spermine can be separated using a five-buffer system on an automatic amino acid analyzer. This method allows, for the first time, the separation of all the known acetyl derivatives of putrescine and spermidine as well as the parent compounds in urine and tissues with a single automated procedure. The method has been applied to the analysis of biological samples from normal volunteers, cancer patients and a rat liver supernatant. Mass spectral confirmation was obtained for each compound.