[Clinical aspects of receptors; from animal models to physiopathological concepts. Experience with fenfluramine].

The fenfluramine racemate belongs to a new therapeutic class of molecules acting on food intake, without psychostimulant or addictive potential. This molecule was extensively studied in the treatment of obesity and its action was better understood by studying the dextrogyre and levogyre enantiomers. New methods allowed to show that dexfenfluramine (the dextrogyre isomer) worked through a serotoninergic activity which was responsible for the effect on food intake and disorders of eating behavior. New pharmacological concepts have emerged by using this molecule and new animal models, nearer to human pathology, were found (stress induced eating, carbohydrate selection...). Molecular Biology and Neurosciences have already led to a better knowledge of the central mechanism of action of the molecule by describing its effect on receptors and binding sites; however a lot of other concepts remain to be discovered.