[Uptake and esterification of (4-14C) cholesterol after injection into the cerebral ventricles of conscious cats]

Abstract

The brain tissue had appreciable capacity to take up and to esterify (4-14C) cholesterol from the cats cerebral ventricles. The highest values of radioactive material in the brain tissue were found 30 minutes after intraventricular injection of (4-14C) cholesterol. Thereafter, within a few hours most of the labelled cholesterol disappeared and by the end of 48 h the brain tissue retained only small amounts of it. at the same time, radioactive material was found in the peripheral venous blood, but in very small amounts. The analysis for cholesterol esters showed that about 50 % of (4-14C) cholesterol taken up by the brain tissue had undergone esterification. The rate of esterification of cholesterol within 48 h remained more or less constant, although a significant peak was noted by the end of 24 h.