Abstract
Rats which received fenfluramine (an obesity drug) through their drinking water (0.1 or 0.2 mg/ml) had significantly lower (P < 0.001) body weight and food consumption than control animals. Concentrations of plasma glucose and total cholesterol did not change significantly in the rats receiving fenfluramine whereas the level of triglycerides was significantly lower (P < 0.01) than in controls. The activity of hexokinase (HK) in the liver of rats treated with fenfluramine was significantly reduced following oral administration of fenfluramine (0.1 mg/ml, P < 0.05; 0.2 mg/ml, P < 0.002), whereas activity in the intestinal mucosa and adipose tissue did not change significantly. The activity of 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase (PFK) from intestinal mucosa and adipose tissue was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in fenfluramine-treated rats than in controls, but the liver enzyme did not change significantly. Activity of pyruvate kinase (PK) of fenfluramine-treated rats was not significantly affected in any of the three tissues. In vitro tests with fenfluramine showed that only 10 mM significantly reduced the activity of liver HK (P < 0.05) and intestinal PK (P < 0.02), whereas the activity of PFK was not significantly affected in any of the three tissues. Med Sci Res 27:531-534 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.