Effects of putrescine, cadaverine, spermine, spermidine and beta-phenylethylamine on cultured bovine mammary epithelial cells

A bovine mammary epithelial cell line (BME-UV1) and three-dimensional collagen primary bovine organoids were used to evaluate the effects of cadaverine, putrescine, spermine, spermidine and β-phenylethylamine on mammary epithelial cells. Each biogenic amine was diluted in several concentrations (0-50 mM in BME-UV1 and 0-4 mM in primary bovine organoids) in the appropriate saline solution for the cell culture considered. In order to determine the activity of each compound tritiated thymidine incorporation was used. At low concentrations, all amines induced cell proliferation in both cultures. In BME-UV1, spermine significantly inhibited cell proliferation (P<0.001), while the other amines inhibited at higher concentrations (50mM). In primary bovine organoids, β-phenylethylamine significantly (P<0.001) inhibited cell proliferation at 4 mM. Organoids cultured in the presence of all amines, except β-phenylethylamine, had stellate projections indicating intense cell proliferation. Proliferation of mammary epithelial cells was stimulated at low concentrations, while at high concentrations it was inhibited. Our results suggested that the effects of each compound on mammary epithelial cells could be related to the compound itself and not to mediating by the bovine amino oxidase, responsible of the formation of toxic metabolites.