Weight loss with long-term intermittent treatment with oral oleoyl-estrone in lean Zucker male rats

To determine whether or not the long-term intermittent treatment with oleoyl-estrone (OE) in rats induces a cumulative weight loss, adult male rats were treated with OE over three alternating 10-day periods, with a 30-day "recovery" period occurring between each period. At the end of the third treatment period, the rats were allowed to recover and were then mated with females. Each treatment period produced a decrease of ca. 7% in body weight with no rebound during the recovery periods, whereas weight changed at the same pace in controls. The greatest difference in body weight was observed during the last days of treatment. OE-treated rats retained their initial protein pools throughout the treatment. Furthermore, treated and control males remained fertile and were able to procreate. Thus, we can conclude that intermittent OE treatment induces a cumulative weight loss in adult male rats.