We previously found that glucocorticoids inhibit growth and increase differentiation in rat pancreatic acinar AR42J cells. In the current study, we examined the role of polyamines in these effects. Treatment of AR42J cells with the ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) inhibitor difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) inhibited DNA synthesis. Thus polyamines are required for AR42J cell growth. However, we have previously shown that dexamethasone (Dex) increased AR42J cell ODC activity and mRNA levels. In the current study, we found that Dex treatment increased cellular putrescine levels. These increases in ODC and putrescine occurred during Dex-induced inhibition of DNA synthesis. Therefore, in AR42J cells, ODC activity and polyamine levels are not strictly growth related. To examine the requirement for glucocorticoid induction of ODC activity in glucocorticoid stimulation of differentiation, we examined the effects of DFMO on amylase gene expression and cholecystokinin binding. DFMO reduced cell amylase content while having little effect on mRNA levels in both Dex-treated and untreated cells. In contrast, DFMO had little effect on control CCK binding but inhibited the Dex-induced increase. Thus polyamines are necessary for growth and glucocorticoid-induced differentiation of AR42J cells; however, effects of glucocorticoids on AR42J cell growth and differentiation are not mediated by effects on ODC.