Mechanisms of action of mazindol in preventing onset and development of obesity induced by gold thioglucose injection.

Biochemical and morphological studies were made on the role of mazindol in treatment of obesity in mice induced by gold thioglucose (GTG) injection. Mazindol was added to the diet at a level of 10 mg/kg body weight and then all animals were fed on a constantly restricted diet of 60 percent of the level of ad lib, food intake for 10 weeks. The following results were obtained: (1) The body weight and Lee's index were significantly increased by GTG injection and these increases in the GTG-obese group were reduced by oral mazindol. (2) The levels of triglyceride and cholesterol in the liver were much higher in the GTG-obese group than in the lean group, and were significantly less in the mazindol-treated group than in the GTG-obese group. (3) The levels of serum triglyceride and immunoreactive insulin were significantly higher in the GTG group than in the lean group and the increase in the GTG-treated animals was reduced by oral mazindol. (4) The size of fat cells and basal lipolytic activity in parametrial adipose tissue were greater in the GTG-obese group than in the lean group and were significantly reduced by mazindol treatment. (5) Disaccharidase activities in the small intestinal mucosa and the absorptive surface area of the mucosa were significantly greater in the GTG-obese group than in the lean group and were increased significantly less in the mazindol-treated group.