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Oat bran, barley and malted barley lower plasma cholesterol relative to wheat bran but differ in their effects on liver cholesterol in rats fed diets with and without cholesterol.

Males rats were fed diets containing wheat bran, oat bran, barley or malted barley without or with 10 g/kg cholesterol + 1 g/kg cholic acid (referred to as "cholesterol"). Plasma total, HDL, and VLDL+LDL cholesterol concentrations were higher overall in rats fed cholesterol. There was a significant interaction between dietary cholesterol and cereal type. Higher concentrations of total and VLDL+LDL cholesterol were found in rats fed cholesterol with wheat bran than in those fed oat bran, barley or malted barley. HDL cholesterol concentrations were higher overall in rats fed wheat bran than in those fed oat bran or barley but not malted barley. Liver cholesterol pools were higher overall in rats fed cholesterol. In all animals fed oat bran, liver cholesterol was lower than in rats fed barley or malted barley. Hepatic HDL receptor activity was lower overall in rats fed cholesterol. There was no independent effect of cereal type on HDL receptor activity, but there was a significant interaction with dietary cholesterol. Activity tended to be higher in rats fed malted barley with cholesterol than in rats fed malted barley without cholesterol. LDL receptor activity was not affected by cereal type but was significantly lower overall in rats fed cholesterol.

Animals↗

Monensin and brefeldin A inhibit high density lipoprotein-mediated cholesterol efflux from cholesterol-enriched cells. Implications for intracellular cholesterol transport.

Mechanisms and pathways of excess cholesterol removal from intracellular sites of accumulation to extracellular cholesterol acceptors remain poorly defined. To gain further insights, compounds known to affect cellular protein transport pathways were tested for their effects on high density lipoprotein (HDL)-mediated cholesterol efflux from cultured cells enriched with cholesterol. Monensin, nigericin, and brefeldin A inhibited the ability of HDL to decrease cellular cholesterol esterification, stimulate sterol biosynthesis, and promote the efflux of labeled cholesterol and cholesterol mass from fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells. HDL-mediated decrease in cell cholesterol esterification was inhibited up to 80% by these compounds compared with control incubations over an HDL concentration of 5-100 micrograms/ml and up to 18 h of incubation. Up-regulation of sterol biosynthesis after depletion of cell cholesterol by HDL increased over 10-fold; however, inclusion of monensin or brefeldin A during the incubation completely prevented the increase of sterol biosynthesis by HDL. Efflux of [3H]cholesterol to HDL from prelabeled cells was inhibited up to 40% by these compounds, and this effect persisted when cholesterol esterification was blocked. Similarly, monensin and brefeldin A inhibited up to 50% of HDL-mediated cholesterol mass efflux relative to controls. Treatment of cells with cholesterol oxidase demonstrated an increase of intracellular cholesterol after exposure to monensin or nigericin and to a lesser extent with brefeldin A. These data show that monensin, nigericin, and brefeldin A sequester cholesterol from sites normally available for efflux by HDL. Since these compounds act by disruption of Golgi complex structure and function, a role for this intracellular organelle in transport of cholesterol between intracellular sites and the plasma membrane for eventual removal by extracellular acceptors such as HDL is suggested.

Ammonium Chloride↗

Cholesterol absorption in rat intestine: role of cholesterol esterase and acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase.

Cholesterol esterase of pancreatic juice origin and acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase, both associated with the intestinal mucosa, are implicated in the extensive esterification of exogenous cholesterol during absorption. To assess the role of each enzyme, [4-14C]cholesterol absorption into mesenteric lymph of rats with normal mucosal levels of both esterification enzymes was compared with that of rats with normal acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase activity but deficient cholesterol esterase activity. The cholesterol esterase deficiency was accomplished by either surgical diversion of the pancreatic juice from the intestinal lumen or removal by specific immunoprecipitation of cholesterol esterase from the otherwise complete pancreatic juice. In the rats that were transferase-complete and esterase-deficient, cholesterol absorption into lymph and esterase activity in the mucosa were decreased an average of 83% and 75%, respectively, compared with rats complete with both esterification enzymes. Of the absorbed [4-14C]cholesterol in all rats, 82-90% was esterified and the mucosal levels of cholesterol esterase, even in the esterase-deficient rats, could readily account for this esterification. Because transferase activity was normal in rat intestine in which cholesterol esterase was deficient and cholesterol absorption was inhibited, transferase alone does not support the absorption of exogenous cholesterol in the absence of esterase. These results reconfirm the importance of esterification in the absorption of exogenous cholesterol and demonstrate that cholesterol esterase plays an essential role in the regulation of the absorption process.

Acyltransferases↗

Effects of dietary cholesterol on cholesterol and bile acid homeostasis in patients with cholesterol gallstones.

We examined changes in cholesterol and bile acid metabolism produced by dietary cholesterol in gallstone subjects and matched controls. Healthy women were recruited and, after confirming the presence or absence of radiolucent gallstones, they were studied on regular diets and again on the same diet supplemented with five eggs daily for 15-18 d. Studies included plasma lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins, dietary records, cholesterol absorption, cholesterol synthesis, plasma clearance of chylomicron remnants, biliary lipid composition, and secretion and bile acid kinetics. On low cholesterol, gallstone subjects absorbed a slightly lower fraction of dietary cholesterol, synthesized more cholesterol, and had smaller bile acid pools and faster fractional turnover rate (FTR) of bile acids. On high cholesterol, the fraction of cholesterol absorbed decreased in both groups and cholesterol synthesis decreased, especially in the gallstone group. Biliary cholesterol secretion increased in the gallstone group only. FTR of bile acids did not change in either group. Bile acid synthesis and pool tended to increase (P = NS) in the controls, but in gallstone subjects, synthesis and pool size decreased. We concluded that in gallstone subjects cholesterol and bile acid homeostasis is significantly altered, and that increasing dietary cholesterol increases biliary cholesterol secretion and decreases bile acid synthesis and pool, changes associated with cholesterol gallstone formation.

Adult↗

Effects of perturbations in hepatic free and esterified cholesterol pools on bile acid synthesis, cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase, HMG-CoA reductase, acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase and cytosolic cholesteryl ester hydrolase.

Effects of expansion of the hepatic free cholesterol pool on bile acid and cholesterol metabolism and homeostasis were examined in rats fed cholesterol in high-fat diets or treated with oleyl-p-(n-decyl)-benzenesulfonate (ODS) or progesterone. Cholesterol feeding for 10-16 days, which increased free (33%) and esterified (6-fold) cholesterol, had no effect on cholate synthesis, total bile acid synthesis, or cholate turnover, whereas these activities were increased 60-80% by ODS and progesterone, which produced only small increases (19%) in free cholesterol. Cholesterol feeding reduced beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA reductase (72%) and cholesteryl ester hydrolase (48%) and increased acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (184%), whereas ODS and progesterone reversed these compensatory responses in cholesterol-fed rats. Cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase was changed no more than 22% by any treatment. A bolus of ODS elevated biliary cholesterol output 41% and shifted biliary bile acid synthesis and composition toward 12-deoxy bile acids. These effects were not seen in ODS-fed or progesterone-treated rats, in which cholesteryl ester stores were depleted. It is concluded that effects of free cholesterol on bile acid synthesis and biliary cholesterol are probably mediated by specific precursor or regulatory pools which can be independently regulated and which represent a relatively small fraction of hepatic free cholesterol.

Animals↗

Dietary cholesterol from eggs increases the ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in humans: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Several epidemiologic studies found no effect of egg consumption on the risk of coronary heart disease. It is possible that the adverse effect of eggs on LDL-cholesterol is offset by their favorable effect on HDL cholesterol. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to review the effect of dietary cholesterol on the ratio of total to HDL cholesterol. DESIGN: Studies were identified by MEDLINE and Biological Abstracts searches (from 1974 to June 1999) and by reviewing reference lists. In addition, we included data from a more recently published study. Studies were included if they had a crossover or parallel design with a control group, if the experimental diets differed only in the amount of dietary cholesterol or number of eggs and were fed for > or =14 d, and if HDL-cholesterol concentrations were reported. Of the 222 studies identified, 17 studies involving 556 subjects met these criteria. RESULTS: The addition of 100 mg dietary cholesterol/d increased the ratio of total to HDL cholesterol by 0.020 units (95% CI: 0.010, 0.030), total cholesterol concentrations by 0.056 mmol/L (2.2 mg/dL) (95% CI: 0.046, 0.065 mmol/L; 1.8, 2.5 mg/dL), and HDL-cholesterol concentrations by 0.008 mmol/L (0.3 mg/dL) (95% CI: 0.005, 0.010 mmol/L; 0.2, 0.4 mg/dL). CONCLUSIONS: Dietary cholesterol raises the ratio of total to HDL cholesterol and, therefore, adversely affects the cholesterol profile. The advice to limit cholesterol intake by reducing consumption of eggs and other cholesterol-rich foods may therefore still be valid.

Cholesterol↗

Cholesterol absorption: regulation of cholesterol synthesis and elimination and within-population variations of serum cholesterol levels.

Obesity and dietary plant sterols were negatively associated with fractional absorption of dietary cholesterol in a random population of 63 middle-aged men. Absorbed dietary cholesterol increased linearly with the increase of dietary cholesterol intake. The higher the fractional and absolute absorption of dietary cholesterol the lower the rates of biliary secretion, fecal elimination, and cholesterol synthesis. The findings also revealed that high serum levels of total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol were associated with high cholesterol absorption and that of HDL cholesterol was associated also with low synthesis and fecal elimination of cholesterol. Thus, cholesterol absorption efficiency and absorbed dietary cholesterol significantly regulate cholesterol synthesis and elimination and are important determinants of within-population variation in the serum levels of total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol.

Absorption↗

ACAT2 deficiency limits cholesterol absorption in the cholesterol-fed mouse: impact on hepatic cholesterol homeostasis.

Acyl CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) 2 is the major cholesterol-esterifying enzyme in mouse enterocytes and hepatocytes. Male ACAT2(+/+) and ACAT2(-/ -) mice were fed chow containing added cholesterol (0%-0.500% w/w) for 24 days. Over this range, fractional cholesterol absorption in the ACAT2(+/+) mice fell from 41.4% +/- 6.6% to 21.0% +/- 5.2%, and in their ACAT2(-/-) counterparts it fell from 35.1% +/- 4.5% to 7.9% +/- 0.8%. The mass of dietary cholesterol absorbed (mg/d per 100 g body weight) increased from 1.2 +/- 0.2 to 14.7 +/- 4.4 in the ACAT2(+/+) mice and from 1.0 +/- 0.2 to 5.5 +/- 0.6 in those without ACAT2. In the ACAT2(+/+) mice, hepatic cholesterol concentrations increased as a function of intake despite compensatory changes in cholesterol and bile acid synthesis and in the expression of adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter G5 (ABCG5) and ABC transporter G8 (ABCG8). In contrast, in ACAT2(-/-) mice in which the amount of cholesterol absorbed at the highest intake was only 37% of that in the ACAT2(+/+) mice, suppression of synthesis was a sufficient adaptive response; there was no change in bile acid synthesis, ABCG5/G8 expression, or hepatic cholesterol concentration. The expression of adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) in the jejunum was markedly elevated in the ACAT2(-/-) mice, irrespective of dietary cholesterol level. In conclusion, although ACAT2 deficiency limits cholesterol absorption, the extent to which it impacts hepatic cholesterol homeostasis depends on cholesterol intake. Loss of ACAT2 activity may result in unesterified cholesterol being absorbed via an ABCA1-mediated basolateral efflux pathway.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1↗

Dietary cholesterol-induced down-regulation of intestinal 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity is diminished in rabbits with hyperresponse of serum cholesterol to dietary cholesterol.

Key enzymes of cholesterol metabolism were studied in two inbred strains of rabbits with hyper- or hyporesponse of serum cholesterol to dietary cholesterol. Baseline 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA reductase activity in liver was similar in hypo- and hyperresponders, but that in intestine was twofold higher in the hyporesponders. The addition of cholesterol (3 g/kg) to the diet caused similar depression of hepatic HMG-CoA reductase activity in the two strains, whereas intestinal HMG-CoA reductase activity was significantly reduced in hyporesponders but not in hyperresponders. Cholesterol feeding induced higher free cholesterol concentrations in hepatic and intestinal microsomes of both hypo- and hyperresponders and higher activity of hepatic acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT). Hepatic ACAT activity was significantly lower in cholesterol-fed hyperresponders than in hyporesponders, which may have contributed to the observed higher free cholesterol concentrations in hepatic microsomes of cholesterol-fed hyperresponders. Intestinal ACAT activity was similar in hypo- and hyperresponders; cholesterol feeding tended (P = 0.11) to elevate the activity of this enzyme. Hepatic cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity was significantly higher in cholesterol-fed hyperresponders than in hyporesponders; it was slightly depressed after cholesterol loading in both rabbit strains.

Animals↗

Cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase: evidence for transcriptional regulation by cholesterol or metabolic products of cholesterol in the rat.

Cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase, the rate-determining enzyme in the bile acid biosynthesis pathway, is regulated in a negative feedback manner by hydrophobic bile salts returning to the liver via the portal circulation. The role of cholesterol in the regulation of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase and the interrelationship between the cholesterol and bile acid biosynthesis pathways remain controversial. The objective of the present study was to define the role of cholesterol in the regulation of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase and determine the molecular level of its control. In order to avoid intestinal or intravenous administration of cholesterol, we manipulated the flow of cholesterol within the hepatocytes by decreasing cholesterol synthesis with lovastatin in bile fistula rats (bile acid synthesis is up-regulated), or by increasing cholesterol supply by administering mevalonate, a precursor of cholesterol, to rats with intact enterohepatic circulation (bile acid synthesis is normal). In the first series of studies, lovastatin was administered as a single intravenous bolus (10 mg/kg) to rats with chronic bile fistula and to rats with intact enterohepatic circulation (cholesterol and bile acid synthesis is normal). Three hours after lovastatin administration, cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase specific activity, enzyme mass, mRNA, and gene transcriptional activity were decreased by 35%, 32%, 56%, and 34%, respectively, in rats with chronic bile fistula. In rats with intact enterohepatic circulation, lovastatin administration resulted in a similar decrease (34%) of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase specific activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Compared with Acyl-CoA:cholesterol O-acyltransferase (ACAT) 1 and lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase, ACAT2 displays the greatest capacity to differentiate cholesterol from sitosterol.

The capacity of acyl-CoA:cholesterol O-acyltransferase (ACAT) 2 to differentiate cholesterol from the plant sterol, sitosterol, was compared with that of the sterol esterifying enzymes, ACAT1 and lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT). Cholesterol-loaded microsomes from transfected cells containing either ACAT1 or ACAT2 exhibited significantly more ACAT activity than their sitosterol-loaded counterparts. In sitosterol-loaded microsomes, both ACAT1 and ACAT2 were able to esterify sitosterol albeit with lower efficiencies than cholesterol. The mass ratios of cholesterol ester to sitosterol ester formed by ACAT1 and ACAT2 were 1.6 and 7.2, respectively. Compared with ACAT1, ACAT2 selectively esterified cholesterol even when sitosterol was loaded into the microsomes. To further characterize the difference in sterol specificity, ACAT1 and ACAT2 were compared in intact cells loaded with either cholesterol or sitosterol. Despite a lower level of ACAT activity, the ACAT1-expressing cells esterified 4-fold more sitosterol than the ACAT2 cells. The data showed that compared with ACAT1, ACAT2 displayed significantly greater selectively for cholesterol compared with sitosterol. The plasma cholesterol esterification enzyme lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase was also compared. With recombinant high density lipoprotein particles, the esterification rate of cholesterol by LCAT was only 15% greater than for sitosterol. Thus, LCAT was able to efficiently esterify both cholesterol and sitosterol. In contrast, ACAT2 demonstrated a strong preference for cholesterol rather than sitosterol. This sterol selectivity by ACAT2 may reflect a role in the sorting of dietary sterols during their absorption by the intestine in vivo.

2-Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin↗

Amperometric assays of total and free cholesterols in serum by the combined use of immobilized cholesterol esterase and cholesterol oxidase reactors and peroxidase electrode in a flow injection system.

A flow injection system for assays of total cholesterol and free cholesterol was described. The total cholesterol assay system included an amperometric peroxidase electrode to measure hexacyanoferrate(III) converted from hydrogen peroxide, which was generated by injecting a 2-microliter sample into the packed-bed reactors of immobilized cholesterol esterase and cholesterol oxidase covalently bound to silica. The free cholesterol was assayed with the same system without the cholesterol esterase reactor. The peak current was linearly related to cholesterol in the range 2-160 mg/dl and to total cholesterol in the range 3-300 mg/dl; the assay speed was about 80 samples/h for free cholesterol and 40 samples/h for total cholesterol. Reliable results were obtained in the assays of free cholesterol and total cholesterol in human sera. Both the reactors and the peroxidase electrode retained over 90% of their original activities, even after repetitive use for 4 and 2 months, respectively.

3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗

Total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol and coronary heart disease in Scotland.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate long term changes in total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations and in measures of other risk factors for coronary heart disease and to assess their importance for the development of coronary heart disease in Scottish men. DESIGN: Longitudinal study entailing follow up in 1988-9 of men investigated during a study in 1976. SETTING: Edinburgh, Scotland. SUBJECTS: 107 men from Edinburgh who had taken part in a comparative study of risk factors for heart disease with Swedish men in 1976 when aged 40. INTERVENTION: The men were invited to attend a follow up clinic in 1988-9 for measurement of cholesterol concentrations and other risk factor measurements. Eighty three attended and 24 refused to or could not attend. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, body weight, weight to height index, prevalence of smoking, and alcohol intake; number of coronary artery disease events. RESULTS: Mean serum total cholesterol concentration increased over the 12 years mainly due to an increase in the low density lipoprotein cholesterol fraction (from 3.53 (SD 0.09) to 4.56 (0.11) mmol/l) despite a reduction in high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration. Body weight and weight to height index increased. Fewer men smoked more than 15 cigarettes/day in 1988-9 than in 1976. Blood pressure remained stable and fasting triglyceride concentrations did not change. The frequency of corneal arcus doubled. Alcohol consumption decreased significantly. Eleven men developed clinical coronary heart disease. High low density lipoprotein and low high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations in 1976, but not total cholesterol concentration, significantly predicted coronary heart disease (p = 0.05). Almost all of the men who developed coronary heart disease were smokers (91% v 53%, p less than 0.05). CONCLUSION: Over 12 years the lipid profile deteriorated significantly in this healthy cohort of young men. Smoking, a low high density lipoprotein concentration and a raised low density lipoprotein concentration were all associated with coronary heart disease in middle aged Scottish men, whereas there was no association for total cholesterol concentration. The findings have implications for screening programmes.

Adult↗

Acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyl transferase in macrophages utilizes a cellular pool of cholesterol oxidase-accessible cholesterol as substrate.

Cholesterol esterification by acyl CoA:cholesterol acyl transferase (ACAT) in macrophages is a key process in atheroma foam cell formation. However, the process of cholesterol substrate delivery to ACAT is not well defined. In this study, J774 macrophages, which form foam cells with native low density lipoprotein (LDL), were labeled with [3H]cholesterol-containing liposomes. Most (80-90%) of the cholesterol label could be converted by cholesterol oxidase to cholestenone, suggesting plasma membrane localization; only 0.6% of the label was in cholesteryl ester (CE). In cells chased for 6 h in medium lacking LDL, the distribution of label was essentially unchanged, whereas in cells chased with LDL, 28% of the label was incorporated into CE concomitant with a decrease in cholestenone label to 50%. [3H]Cholesterol-labeled mouse peritoneal macrophages incubated with acetyl-LDL, and both J774 and mouse peritoneal macrophages incubated with 25-hydroxy-cholesterol, also showed a shift of label from cholestenone to CE. Similar results were found when cellular cholesterol was biosynthetically labeled with [3H]mevalonate. The percentage of cholesterol substrate for ACAT in LDL-treated J774 macrophages which originates from endogenous cellular pools (versus that originating from LDL itself) is approximately 50%. We conclude that upon activation of ACAT in macrophages, there is a novel process whereby a cholesterol oxidase-accessible pool of cellular cholesterol, presumably plasma membrane cholesterol, is translocated to ACAT in the endoplasmic reticulum.

3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗

Cholesterol absorption and hepatic acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase activity play major roles in lipemic response to dietary cholesterol and fat in laboratory opossums.

Partially inbred lines of laboratory opossums differ considerably in their low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol responses to dietary cholesterol and fat. Genetic analysis suggested that a single major gene is responsible for the variation in LDL cholesterol on the high cholesterol and high fat (HCHF) diet. We measured cholesterol absorption and acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) activity in intestine and liver to narrow the search for the major gene. We measured plasma lipoproteins and percent cholesterol absorption by the fecal isotope ratio method in high and low responding lines of opossums on basal and HCHF diets. We also measured lipids in liver and ACAT activity in liver and intestine on the HCHF diet. High and low lines exhibited no differences in percent cholesterol absorption on the basal diet. However, high responding opossums had significantly higher percent cholesterol absorption, hepatic free and esterified cholesterol, and hepatic ACAT activity than low responding opossums on the HCHF diet. Hepatic ACAT activity but not the intestinal ACAT activity was associated with hepatic cholesterol concentration and percent cholesterol absorption. Cholesterol absorption is a major determinant of diet-induced hyperlipidemia in opossums. Hepatic ACAT activity but not the intestinal ACAT may also play a role in diet-induced hyperlipidemia in opossums.

Animal Feed↗

Cholesterol metabolism in two strains of rats with high or low response of serum cholesterol to a cholesterol-rich diet.

Transfer from a low cholesterol commercial diet to a high cholesterol diet, containing 2% (wt/wt) cholesterol and 0.5% cholate, caused an increase in serum cholesterol from about 2.5 mmol/L in two inbred rat strains to 5 mmol/L in the hyporesponsive strain and to 20 mmol/L in the hyperresponsive strain. In both strains the excess of cholesterol in the serum was exclusively located in the very low density lipoproteins. Cholesterol feeding caused a sevenfold increase in the amount of cholesterol in the liver, the increase tending to be greater in the hyporesponders. On the commercial diet, the decay of specific radioactivity of serum cholesterol after the intravenous administration of labeled cholesterol was faster in the hyporesponsive rats. The rate of fecal excretion of radioactive bile acids on this diet was higher in the hyporesponders when compared with the hyperresponders, whereas there was no strain difference with regard to the output of fecal neutral steroids. Sterol balance data showed that whole-body cholesterol synthesis on the low cholesterol diet was about twofold higher in the hypo- than in the hyperresponders. When fed the high cholesterol diet the half-life in the serum of injected radioactive cholesterol was about six times shorter in the hyporesponders. In absolute amounts, the hypo- and hyperresponders excreted similar amounts of endogenous (radioactive) bile acids and fecal steroids with the feces on this diet.

Animals↗

Regulation of cholesterol metabolism in the dog. II. Effects of complete bile diversion and of cholesterol feeding on pool sizes of tissue cholesterol measured at autopsy.

In six adult pedigreed dogs the effects of high-cholesterol diets or bile diversion on the sizes of body cholesterol pools were studied at autopsy. Total body cholesterol was determined by measuring the cholesterol content of discrete organs and of the eviscerated carcass: neither cholesterol feeding nor bile diversion had altered total body cholesterol or the cholesterol content of individual organs and tissues. These results validated the conclusion based on sterol balance data obtained during life, that high-cholesterol feeding did not lead to substantial expansion of tissue cholesterol pools. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF EXCHANGEABLE CHOLESTEROL IN THE ANIMALS WITH AN INTACT ENTEROHEPATIC CIRCULATION, WHEN ESTIMATED FROM ISOTOPIC DATA, WAS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AS THAT MEASURED CHEMICALLY: this indicated that there was little or no nonexchangeable cholesterol in these dogs, except in skin and nervous tissue, regardless of the cholesterol content of the diet. This correspondence of estimates was not obtained in the bile-diverted dogs: we propose that the defect in the isotopic estimates was due to the accelerated rate of cholesterol synthesis in these animals. Gross and microscopic morphology of all organs and tissues was examined. Abnormal findings were limited to the biliary tract and the urinary collecting system of the two bile-diverted dogs: multiple bilirubinate gallstones were found, and mild pyelitis and ureteritis were present on the side of the bilio-renal shunt, but the urinary bladder was normal. Histologic evidence of moderate degree of cholangitis was found in one of the two bile-shunted dogs, but in neither dog was there evidence of impedance of bile flow.

Adipose Tissue↗

Adzuki resistant starch lowered serum cholesterol and hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA mRNA levels and increased hepatic LDL-receptor and cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase mRNA levels in rats fed a cholesterol diet.

We examined the effects of adzuki bean resistant starch on serum cholesterol and hepatic mRNA in rats fed a cholesterol diet. The mRNA coded for key regulatory proteins of cholesterol metabolism. The control rats were fed 15 % cornstarch (basal diet, BD). The experimental rats were fed BD plus a 0.5 % cholesterol diet (CD), or a 15 % adzuki resistant starch plus 0.5 % cholesterol diet (ACD) for 4 weeks. The serum total cholesterol and VLDL + intermediate density lipoprotein + LDL-cholesterol levels in the ACD group were significantly lower than those in the CD group throughout the feeding period. The total hepatic cholesterol concentrations in the CD and ACD groups were not significantly different. The faecal total bile acid concentration in the ACD group was significantly higher than that in the BD and CD groups. Total SCFA and acetic acid concentrations in the ACD group were significantly higher than those in the CD group but there were no significant differences in the concentrations between the ACD and BD groups. The hepatic LDL-receptor mRNA and cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase mRNA levels in the ACD group were significantly higher than those in the CD group and the hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG)-CoA reductase mRNA level in the ACD group was significantly lower than in the CD group. The results suggest that adzuki resistant starch has a serum cholesterol-lowering function via enhancement of the hepatic LDL-receptor mRNA and cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase mRNA levels and faecal bile acid excretion, and a decrease in the hepatic HMG-CoA reductase mRNA level, when it is added to a cholesterol diet.

Acetic Acid↗