Utilization of glucose and palmitate during adipose conversion of ob17 cells. Modulation by hypolipidemic drugs

Cells of the preadipocyte ob17 clonal line convert in culture after confluence to adipose-like cells. Longterm effects of hypolipidemic drugs on glucose and palmitate utilization by ob17 cells were investigated after chronic exposure to one anionic drug (clofenapate) and three cationic drugs (benfluorex and two of its metabolites, 422 SE and 1475 SE). The results indicate that long-term treatment of ob17 cells by clofenapate and 1475 SE enhances significantly the glucose utilization through both increased oxidation and incorporation into lipids. Compound 1475 SE enhances palmitate utilization mainly through increased oxidation. Chronic exposure to clofenapate leads to an increase in palmitate utilization through both oxidation and, as previously shown (Verrando et al., 1981), esterification. Thus, these two drugs are able on a long-term basis to induce on a single and homogeneous cell type--the adipose cell--an increase in the utilisation of two main nutrients both through more active catabolic and anabolic pathways.