Creatine Metabolism after X-irradiation of Rats

Summary

1. Creatine-2-¹⁴C was injected into rats at different times after x- or sham-irradiation.

2. Muscle creatine and phosphocreatine, as well as creatine from blood, kidney and urine, were isolated and their respective specific activities determined. Urinary creatinine was also isolated and its ¹⁴C-activity determined.

3. Coincident with the maximal excretion of creatine, the specific activities of muscle creatine and phosphocreatine decreased after x-irradiation.

4. Immediately after injecting the x-irradiated rats with creatine-2-¹⁴C, the specific activity of urinary creatine increased, whereas that of creatinine decreased, but at a somewhat later time.

5. It is postulated that defective utilization of creatine by muscle constitutes the cause of radiation-induced creatinuria.