Rimonabant reduces obesity-associated hepatic steatosis and features of metabolic syndrome in obese Zucker fa/fa rats.

This study investigated the effects of rimonabant (SR141716), an antagonist of the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1), on obesity-associated hepatic steatosis and related features of metabolic syndrome: inflammation (elevated plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNFalpha]), dyslipidemia, and reduced plasma levels of adiponectin. We report that oral treatment of obese (fa/fa) rats with rimonabant (30 mg/kg) daily for 8 weeks abolished hepatic steatosis. This treatment reduced hepatomegaly, reduced elevation of plasma levels of enzyme markers of hepatic damage (alanine aminotransferase, gamma glutamyltransferase, and alkaline phosphatase) and decreased the high level of local hepatic TNFalpha currently associated with steatohepatitis.

SSR182289A, a novel, orally active thrombin inhibitor: in vitro profile and ex vivo anticoagulant activity.

SSR182289A competitively inhibits human thrombin (K(i) = 0.031 +/- 0.002 microM) and shows good selectivity with respect to other human proteases, e.