Abstract
Many cases of hepatopathy including deaths have frequently occurred after ingestion of Chinese dietary supplements for weight loss containing N-nitrosofenfluramine (N-fen), a nitroso derivative of fenfluramine (Fen), which was used for the treatment of obesity in the United States. Since Fen decreases appetite by decreasing the serotonin level and exhibits an antibiotic effect, N-fen may have been added, expecting a similar effect. Thus, we synthesized N-fen and orally administered it to mice, and investigated its effect on the liver as well as on the cerebral serotonin nervous system to investigate whether N-fen exhibits an anorectic effect. Three doses of N-fen were orally administered once daily to mice for 1 week. No significant changes in body weight, food intake, and general condition were noted. The liver and kidney weights were significantly increased. On blood chemistry, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase activities were increased, and total bilirubin and albumin were slightly decreased. On histopathological examination, acidophilic changes and mild cellular swelling were noted in the liver. The liver drug-metabolizing enzyme (P-450) level was significantly higher. The effect...Continue Reading
References
Sep 12, 1992·Lancet·N Mostefa-KaraV G Levy
Jan 1, 1990·Synapse·N M AppelE B De Souza
Apr 1, 1974·Journal of Biochemistry·Y Imai, R Sato
May 1, 1993·Synapse·R B RothmanA Pert
Feb 5, 2000·Synapse·R B RothmanK C Rice
Nov 9, 2000·Synapse·R B RothmanJ S Partilla
Feb 1, 2003·The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health·C Corns, K Metcalfe
Mar 22, 2003·The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics·Richard B RothmanMichael H Baumann
Jul 16, 2003·Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology·Tatsuo KandaHiromitsu Saisho
Sep 19, 2003·Annals of Internal Medicine·Masayuki AdachiHiromasa Ishii
Sep 30, 2003·Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan·Ari NakadaiShiro Ikegami
Jan 13, 2004·Internal Medicine·Kazuhito KawataSatuki Makino
Jan 30, 2004·Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology·Takumi KawaguchiMichio Sata
Aug 7, 2004·Medicine, Science, and the Law·Gilbert LauSwee Seng Chu