Effects of 780 SE on lipid metabolism in rabbit aorta

Pretreatment of rabbits with Benfouorex (780 SE) 50 mg/kg p.o. for 10 days strongly inhibited the incorporation of a 20 muCi tracer dose of 4-14C-cholesterol (given i.v. 24 h earlier) into various segments of the aorta. Incorporation of specific activity into the liver, intestine, lung or plasma was not affected. 1 h after i.v. injection of a 100 muCi tracer dose of 2-14C-acetate, a significant reduction in the radioactivity of total lipids of the aorta and liver was seen in rabbits pretreated with 780 SE. The inhibition of acetate incorporation into arterial lipids was observed in all lipid fractions (i.e. free fatty acids, free and esterfied cholesterol, phospholipids and especially triglycerides). Incorporation of acetate into triglyceride fractions of liver and intestine and into hepatic cholesterol was also significantly decreased. The results indicate that 780 SE may have anti-atherogenic properties which could be valuable in the clinical treatment of atherosclerosis.