Abstract
Summary
Previously, it was demonstrated that nephrectomy causes a 90% reduction in creatine synthesis in rats. In the present study, nephrectomy was found to cause a 37.5% decrease in methylation of guanidinoacetic acid (GAA)-2-C14. Rats loaded with creatinine by intraperitoneal injection demonstrated a 30% reduction in GAA methylation and a 45% reduction in total synthesis of creatine from glycine. It is concluded that chronic renal disease causes reduced creatine (and creatinine) synthesis both by loss of the renal mechanism and by interference with methylation. It is suggested that extra-renal (pancreatic?) synthesis may be relatively increased to partially compensate for these 2 inhibitory factors.
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