title: A pilot study on lipolytic effect of subcutaneous botulinum toxin injection in rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) exerts a lipolytic effect by interfering with acetylcholine transmission at the cholinergic parasympathetic nerve endings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen male rabbits were divided into 3 equal groups: 1 control group (A) and 2 case groups (B and C). The abdomens of all rabbits were divided into a 3 x 3-square grid. The groups received 9 subcutaneous injections of 0.9% normal saline, 1 U BTX-A (group B) and 2 U BTX-A (group C), respectively. Four weeks later the entire grid was excised from the abdominal area. Hematoxylin-eosin-stained tissue was used for stereologic analysis to estimate cell surface and volume in 100 randomly selected cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gross thinning of subcutaneous fat and shattering and disappearance of fat globules were seen in both case groups. Fat cell volume was reduced by 65% in group B (p = 0.009) and 77% in group C (p = 0.009) compared to control animals. Fat cell surface also decreased by 51% in group B (p = 0.009) and 63% in group C rabbits (p = 0.009) compared to control animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our pilot animal study revealed a dose-dependent lipolytic effect of subcutaneous BTX-A injection.
authors: Student Research Center, Department of Pathology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors: Mansooreh
authors: M
authors: Bagheri
authors: Behnam Moein
authors: BM
authors: Jahromi
authors: Mandana
authors: M
authors: Bagheri
authors: Afshin
authors: A
authors: Borhani Haghighi
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Noorafshan
authors: Perikala Vijai
authors: PV
authors: Kumar
authors: Gholamhossein Ranjbar
authors: GR
authors: Omrani
mesh_terms: D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000294:innervation; D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002799:Cholinergic Fibers / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008066:Lipolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011817:Rabbits; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000294:innervation
chemical_list: D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A; D000109:Acetylcholine