SELECTED PULMONARY EFFECTS INDUCED BY FENFLURAMINE IN THE RAT - A COMPARISON WITH CHLORPHENTERMINE

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.