title: Effects of chronic benfluorex treatment on the activities of key enzymes of hepatic carbohydrate metabolism in old Sprague-Dawley rats.
abstract: Chronic effects of benfluorex on some parameters of carbohydrate metabolism have been studied in 24-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats. Treatment once a day for 14 days with 25 mg benfluorex per kg body weight lowered body weight, decreased circulating insulin and resulted in an increase in hepatic glycogen. Measurement of the activities of several important regulatory enzymes of hepatic carbohydrate metabolism showed a significant decrease in the activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glycogen phosphorylase. The activity of glucose-6-phosphatase, on the other hand, was slightly increased. Taken collectively, our data offer an explanation for the observed inhibition of hepatic glucose production by chronic benfluorex treatment in cases of hyperinsulinemia.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Tielens
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: van den Heuvel
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Geelen
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D005277:Fenfluramine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005947:Glucose / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006003:Glycogen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D010729:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP) / Q000378:metabolism*; D006005:Phosphorylases / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D005277:Fenfluramine; C001584:benfluorex; D006003:Glycogen; D006005:Phosphorylases; D010729:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP); D005947:Glucose