SHORT-TERM HANDLING OF THE SLIMMING AGENT OLEOYL-ESTRONE IN LIPOSOMNES (MERLIN-2) BY THE RAT

Female adult rats were injected in the jugular vein with oleoyl-H-3-es trone incorporated into liposomes. The label rapidly disappeared from the blood, being taken up by the tissues, mainly Liver, spleen and lun g, which filtered most of the label. However, many other tissues, such as the heart, brown adipose tissue, adrenals and Visceral fat incorpo rated significant amounts of oleoyl-estrone. The analysis of the form in which the label remained 10 min after the injection showed that it was hydrolysed in a large proportion even in liver and lungs. However, in most tissues (brain, brown and white - periovaric - adipose tissue s and ovaries), intact oleoyl-estrone accounted for less than one quar ter of all tissue label, and less than 10% in the case of subcutaneous adipose tissue and uterus. This rapid destruction of oleoyl-estrone i s in agreement with the active role of this compound in the control of body weight.