Pn. Valodia et Ja. Syce, SELECTED PULMONARY EFFECTS INDUCED BY FENFLURAMINE IN THE RAT - A COMPARISON WITH CHLORPHENTERMINE, Medical science research, 26(7), 1998, pp. 491-493
We have investigated the potential capacity of fenfluramine to induce
pulmonary hypertension in the rat and the extent to which it induces p
ulmonary phospholipidosis, in comparison to chlorphentermine. Right ve
ntricular hypertrophy and medial hypertrophy of the pulmonary trunk an
d artery may indicate pulmonary hypertension. Foam cells in the alveol
ar sacs indicate pulmonary phospholipidosis. Rats were dosed chronical
ly with either fenfluramine (35 mg/kg), chlorphentermine (35 mg/kg) or
saline daily for 12 weeks. The right ventricular was assessed for hyp
ertrophy. Sections of the pulmonary trunk and artery were examined qua
litatively for medial hypertrophy and lung sections for foam cells in
alveolar sacs. Fenfluramine, unlike chlorphentermine, induced mild rig
ht ventricular hypertrophy (P < 0.05). Neither of the drugs induced me
dial hyptertrophy of the pulmonary trunk or artery. Both drugs induced
foam cells in the alveoli i.e. pulmonary phospholipidosis, but fenflu
ramine did so to a lesser extent than chlorphentermine. Med Sci Res 26
:491-493 (C) 1998 Lippincott-Raven Publishers.