544 Journal of Agricultural Research vol. vi.no. 14 



There are practically no changes in the total creatinin in contrast to 

 the fairly marked changes in this constituent noted in case of the aseptic 

 autolytic experiment. This fact does not indicate that the changes in 

 total creatinin content observed in case of the aseptic autolytic experi- 

 ment are in error, but rather that the antiseptics used in the second 

 experiment probably prevented the change. 



There is a marked increase in free creatinin during the course of the 

 experiment, the increase taking place most rapidly in the early stages 

 of the incubation period, and less rapidly toward the end of the experi- 

 ment, until finally there was practically no change. 



On account of the different bases of calculation, these data can not be 

 compared directly with similar data obtained in case of the aseptic auto- 

 lytic experiment. However, the general trend of the change in free 

 creatinin is the same in each experiment. In the first experiment a 

 maximum production of free creatinin was reached in 42 days, in the 

 second experiment in 84 days. 



Creatin shows decreases corresponding to the increases in creatinin. 

 The data showing changes in the relation of free creatinin to total 

 creatinin indicate most clearly the changes in these constituents during 

 the course of the experiment. The transformation of creatin into 

 creatinin takes place most rapidly during the first 24 hours, and the rate 

 of change steadily decreases during the course of the experiment, until 

 at the end of 77 days a maximum change is reached, the free creatinin 

 then constituting 39.70 per cent of the total creatinin. It is possible 

 that if the experiment had been continued for a much longer time a 

 larger proportion of creatin would have been converted into creatinin. 

 These data confirm the changes of creatin to creatinin observed in the case 

 of the aseptic autolytic experiment, and also the fact that the total 

 extent of the change is limited. In the first experiment a maximum 

 change of 46.40 per cent of total creatin, calculated as creatinin, to 

 creatinin was observed, while in the second experiment the total change 

 amounted to 39.70 per cent. 



The results obtained in the antiseptic autolytic experiment confirm 

 those obtained in the experiment conducted under aseptic conditions, 

 both as regards change of creatin into creatinin, and in that. the total 

 extent of the reaction is limited, but do not confirm those showing first 

 an increase and later a decrease in total creatinin. 



DISCUSSION OF RESULTS 



The results of the experiments reported in this paper show very clearly 

 the transformation of muscle creatin into creatinin during autolysis. 

 To a very considerate degree this transformation must be regarded as 

 due to the action of enzyms. 



These findings are substantiated by the work of Gottlieb and Stangas- 

 singer (3), Stangassinger (9), Rothmann (7), Rowe (8), and Myers and 



