Effect of (−)‐hydroxycitrate upon the accumulation of lipid in the rat: I. Lipogenesis

The purpose of these investigations was to ascertain the effect of (−)‐hydroxycitrate on the accumulation of lipid in the meal fed rat by examining the rates of lipogenesis after acute and chronic treatment. Oral administration of (−)‐hydroxycitrate depressed significantly the in vivo lipogenic rates in a dose‐dependent manner in the liver, adipose tissue, and small intestine. The hepatic inhibition was significant for the 8 hr period, when control animals demonstrated elevated rates of lipid synthesis. The kinetics of this reduction of in vivo hepatic lipogenesis were identical after acute or chronic administration of (−)‐hydroxycitrate. However, in vitro rates of lipogenesis were elevated after chronic administration of (−)‐hydroxycitrate for 30 days. Rats receiving (−)‐hydroxycitrate consumed less food than the untreated controls; however, this decreased caloric intake was not responsible for the drug induced depression of hepatic lipogenesis, as shown by studies using pair fed rats.