Biotransformation of cholesterol to cholestane-3beta,5alpha,6beta-triol via cholesterol alpha-epoxide (5alpha,6alpha-epoxycholestan-3beta-ol) in bovine adrenal cortex.

The major cholesterol metabolite cholestane-3β,5α,6β-triol functions as an endogenous neuroprotectant.

Overstimulation of NMDA-type glutamate receptors is believed to be responsible for neuronal death of the CNS in various disorders, including cerebral and spinal cord ischemia. However, the intrinsic and physiological mechanisms of modulation of these receptors are essentially unknown. Here we report that cholestane-3β,5α,6β-triol (triol), a major metabolite of cholesterol, is an endogenous neur...

Uptake, metabolism, and cytotoxicity of isomeric cholesterol-5,6-epoxides in rabbit aortic endothelial cells.

The isomeric cholesterol-5,6-epoxides represent two common cholesterol autoxidation products and along with their principal metabolic product, 3 beta,5 alpha,6 beta-cholestane triol, are purportedly angiotoxic. The uptake and cytotoxic action of these compounds was examined in cultured rabbit aortic endothelial cells emphasizing mechanisms of uptake and metabolic fate. The isomeric cholesterol ...

Ultrastructural Localization of Digitonin-Cholesterol Complex in the Adrenal Cortex

SUMMARY : The ultrastructural localization of cholesterol was studied by dig-itonin reaction which has been used to identify the free cholesterol for electron micro-scopy. Digitonin-cholesterol complex revealed multi-layered cylindrical electron dense lamellae and concentric whorled lamellae. They were found in the cytoplasm closely attached to the plasma membrane in adrenocortical cells, and w...

Sources of extramitochondrial corticoidogenic cholesterol in the adrenal cortex.

Intracellular sources of extramitochondrial corticoidogenic cholesterol in bovine, rat and hamster adrenocortical cells were examined in vitro by comparing the species differences in the effects of various inhibitors on the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-induced corticoidogenesis. The inhibitors were ML-236B (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor), W-7 (N-(6-am...

Cholesterol hydroxylation in the adrenal cortex and liver.