The catabolism of cholesterol in vitro. Formation of 3α,7α,12α-trihydroxy-5β-cholestanoic acid from cholesterol by rat liver |
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| Authors: | D Mendelsohn and L Mendelsohn |
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| Institution: | Department of Chemical Pathology, Witwatersrand University Medical School, Johannesburg, South Africa |
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| Abstract: | 1. Both 25-d- and 25-l-3alpha,7alpha,12alpha-trihydroxy-5beta-cholestanoic acid were isolated from the gall-bladder bile of Crocodylus niloticus. 2. The catabolism of cholesterol to 25-d- and 25-l-3alpha,7alpha,12alpha-trihydroxy-5beta-cholestanoic acid respectively was studied by using a rat liver preparation in vitro. The results show that rat liver can metabolize cholesterol to both forms of 3alpha,7alpha,12alpha-trihydroxy-5beta-cholestanoic acid. However, a preference was noted for the formation from 4-(14)C]cholesterol of 3alpha,7alpha,12alpha-trihydroxy-5beta-cholestanoic acid (25-d), which was isolated from the incubations with a specific radioactivity about four times that of 3alpha,7alpha,12alpha-trihydroxy-5beta-cholestanoic acid (25-l). 3. The results indicate that 3alpha,7alpha,12alpha-trihydroxy-5beta-cholestanoic acid is a normal intermediate in the biosynthesis of bile acids from cholesterol in the rat. |
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