EFFECTS OF CHRONIC BENFLUOREX TREATMENT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF KEY ENZYMES OF HEPATIC CARBOHYDRATE-METABOLISM IN OLD SPRAGUE-DAWLEY RATS

Chronic effects of benfluorex on some parameters of carbohydrate metab olism 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 lower ed body weight, decreased circulating insulin and resulted in an incre ase in hepatic glycogen. Measurement of the activities of several impo rtant regulatory enzymes of hepatic carbohydrate metabolism showed a s ignificant decrease in the activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxyki nase and glycogen phosphorylase. The activity of glucose-6-phosphatase , on the other hand, was slightly increased. Taken collectively, our d ata offer an explanation for the observed inhibition of hepatic glucos e production by chronic benfluorex treatment in cases of hyperinsuline mia.