Desmosteryl sulfate and desmosterol in hamster epididymal spermatozoa

Desmosteryl sulfate composes 95% of the sterol sulfate fraction of hamster epididymal spermatozoa at a level of 10 mg/g dry weight. Desmosterol represents as much as 40% of the free sterol fraction of these cells. Only cholesterol was detected in the free sterol fraction from plasma and liver of the same animals. The present report details the evidence for proof of structure of the two compounds isolated.