METHODS

The diethanolamine salt of the mono (a,p-dimethylbenzyl) ester of d-caniphorie acid (Gallogen) augmented diet-induced hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipemia in the rat, while depressing liver cholesterol and total lipid concentrations. Diethanolamine had virtually identical effects. Gallogen, given orally to rats with biliary fistulas had a slight hydrocholeretic effect, but did not influence biliary excretion of cholesterol, cholic acid, or ehenodeoxycholic acid. THE diethanolamine salt of the mono(<z,p-dimethylbenzyl) ester of d-cam-phorie acid (Gallogen) was introduced in 1941 as a " t rue " choleretic.1 In 1956 Clarkson et al. observed that Gallogen partly prevented the hypercholesterolemia which results from feeding cholesterol to cockerels, and that it potentiated the hypocholesterolizing effects of soybean steroLs in this species.2 The present investigation was intended to study the mechanism of the reported hypo-cholesterolizing effect of this drug employ-ing the rat. It was found, however, that contrary to the reported effects in cockerels, Gallogen exaggerated the induced hyper-cholesterolemia of rats while depressing liver cholesterol concentrations. Diethanolamine had the same effect, suggesting that it may be the active moiety of the Gallogen molecule. The choleretic effect attributed to Gallogen' has not been observed. These findings form the basis of the present report