Comparison of toxic effects of methylguanidine, guanidinosuccinic acid and creatinine in rats with adenine-induced chronic renal failure.

Methylguanidine (MG), guanidinosuccinic acid (GSA) and creatinine (Cr), which accumulate in the body in parallel with the progress of renal failure after adenine administration, were given separately to rats in order to compare their toxicities. Food containing adenine was given to rats for 24 days to induce renal failure, and then each of the test substances was administered intraperitoneally from the following day, the survival rates of the rats being subsequently determined. Administration of MG at varying doses produced a dose-dependent decrease in the survival rate, whereas the survival curves obtained for rats given GSA or Cr indicated weak toxicity. The levels of MG, GSA or Cr accumulated in the body were extraordinarily high in surviving rats after 14 days of administration of each respective compound. The toxic effects are discussed on the basis of these results.