Effects of diabetes on creatine kinase activity in streptozotocin-diabetic rats

To study the effect of diabetes on the creatine kinase (CK) activity in different tissues of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Serum samples, heart, extensor digitorum longus, brain and bladder were collected from both streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat and control group. Ck was measured by enzymologic method.

The body weight, heart weight and brain weight were reduced significantly compared with control group (P < 0.001), but bladder weight was increased significantly (P < 0.001). CK activity in serum and extensor digitorum longus in diabetic rat was significantly lower (P < 0.001); CK activity in diabetic heart was lower (P < 0.01); and in brain also lower (P < 0.05). A higher CK activity in diabetic bladder was found (P < 0.001).

Diabetes can result in a lower CK activity in serum, heart, brain and extensor digitorum longus that may affect the energy metabolism in the tissues. A higher CK activity in diabetic bladder may reflect a functional compensatory mechanism.