The Effect of Testosterone Propionate on Induced Creatintjria in Rats*

That the gonads may be involved in creatine and creatinine metabolism was indicated when Rose (1) discovered a persistent creatinuria in children before puberty. After puberty the creatinuria ceases in boys, but continues to a lesser extent or in a cyclic manner in girls and women. In support of this finding, Read (2), McNeal (3), Remen (4), Btihler (5), Pizzolato and Beard (6), and others have claimed that castration in humans and animals leads to a creatinuria. In contrast, Tsun-Chee Shen (7), Kochakian and Murlin (8), Sandberg, Perla, and Holly (9), and others have not observed an induced creatinuria in men, dogs, or rats by castration. Considerable difference of opinion also exists concerning the effects of sex hormones upon creatine and creatinine excretion in hypogonadism and following castration. Btihler (lo), Kun and Peczenik (ll), Paschkis and Schwoner (12), and Kenyon et al. (13) find that androgens effect a decrease in hypogonad creatinuria. On the other hand, Pizzolato and Beard (6) report that castration in rats produces a creatinuria which is not decreased, but actually is increased by testosterone propionate administration. In view of the many conflicting reports an investigation was undertaken on urinary excretion of creatine and creatinine in normal and castrated male rats kept on a creatineand creatinine-free, high protein diet with and without testosterone propionate treatment and a repetition with a controlled intake of creatine.