ERUCIC ACID AND CHOLESTEROL EXCRETION IN THE RAT

Abstract

Erucic acid has been found to increase the excretion of endogenously produced cholesterol in the rat with little change in the cholesterol concentration in the carcass except for increased concentrations in the adrenals and liver. The fecal cholesterol was identified by melting point and infrared spectrum after isolation by chromatography on alumina. It does not appear to originate in the liver since no increase was observed in the biliary excretion of cholesterol. Other homologues of oleic acid, namely eicosenoic and nervonic acid, produced similar changes in fecal cholesterol excretion, although oleic acid itself had little effect. A series of saturated fatty acids from butyric (C4) to behenic (C22) were tested and the longer chain members found to cause some increase in cholesterol excretion. Ester cholesterol accounted for much of the observed increases but varied greatly in the experiments with unsaturated fatty acids. A preparation of cerebrosides from beef spinal cord also increased the amount of cholesterol excreted in the feces. The fatty acid fraction from this preparation gave a similar result, although the cerebrosides gave rise mainly to free cholesterol and the fatty acid fraction to ester cholesterol.