In vivo brain phosphocreatine and atp regulation in mice fed a creatine analogue. Holtzman, D., R. Meyers, E. O'gorman, I. Khait, T. Wallimann, E. Allred, F. Jensen. Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA, Institute for Cell Biology, ETH-Honggerberg, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
APStracts 3:0391C, 1996.
Mitochondrial and cytosolic creatine kinase (CK) isozymes are active in cells with high and variable ATP metabolic rates. [beta] -guanidinopropionic acid (GPA), a competitive inhibitor of creatine (Cr) transport, was used to study the hypothesis that the Cr/CK/phosphocreatine (PCr) system is important in regulating brain ATP metabolism. The CK catalyzed reaction rate and reactant concentrations were measured in vivo using 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy during energy deficit (hypoxia) or high energy turnover (seizures) states in urethane anesthetized mice fed GPA, Cr, or standard chow (Controls). Brain phosphagen (i.e., cellular energy reserves) or PCr plus phosphorylated GPA (GPAP) concentrations were equal. Phosphagen/nucleoside triphosphate was lower than in Controls. In vivo CK reaction rate decreased four fold, while ex vivo biochemically measured CK activity doubled. During seizures CK catalyzed fluxes increased in GPA fed mice only. Phosphagen increased in GPA fed mice while PCr decreased in Controls. Survival was higher and brain phosphagen and ATP losses less in hypoxic GPA fed mice than Controls. In contrast to mice fed GPA, hypoxic survival and CK reactant concentrations during hypoxia and seizures were the same in Cr fed mice and Controls. Thus, GPA, GPAP, or adaptive changes in ATP metabolism stabilize brain ATP and enhance survival during hypoxia in mice.

Received 12 August 1996; accepted in final form 21 November 1996.
APS Manuscript Number C457-6.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Cell Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 31 December 1996