Creatine and Creatinine in Tissues and Urine of Mice With Hereditary Muscular Dystrophy

Muscle creatine in mice with hereditary muscular dystrophy averaged 20% lower than normal when values were based on wet weight of muscle. Part of the apparent decrease may be the result of an approximately twofold increase in total lipid. The concentration of creatine in liver and kidney was similar in dystrophic and normal mice. The ratio of urinary creatine to creatinine was similar in both groups when the diet was laboratory chow. It was increased in dystrophic but not in normal mice when they were fed oatmeal or a synthetic diet. The injection of creatine resulted in an increase in urinary creatine that was similar in both groups while supplementing the diet with vitamin E did not reduce the creatinuria of dystrophic mice to normal levels. Dystrophic mice appeared to be able to remove injected creatine from the blood stream somewhat more rapidly than did normal mice.