Effect of chlorphentermine on incorporation of [14C]choline in the rat lung phospholipids.

The effect of chlorphentermine (CP) treatment (50 mg/kg/day, per os [po]) on the incorporation of [14C]choline into rat lung phospholipid was studied. Total phospholipid content was increased 2.0-fold and 1.7-fold after seven and 14 days, respectively, compared with the pair-fed rats. The incorporation of [14C]choline into phosphatidylcholine (PC) was significantly inhibited by either seven or 14 days of CP treatment. Nevertheless, the PC content was significantly increased by day 7 and stayed elevated at day 14 of CP treatment. Choline and phosphorylcholine contents were significantly decreased by the CP treatment. These results suggest that the higher accumulation of PC is due to inhibition of enzymes involved in the hydrolysis of phospholipids rather than to a stimulation of the phospholipid synthesis.