The degradation of labelled lanosterol by homogenate of rat liver: Evidence for the formation of lithocholic acid from lanosterol without cholesterol as intermediate

Abstract

In contrast to labelled cholesterol, labelled lanosterol is rapidly degraded by rat liver homogenate leading to metabolites which behave like bile acids by characterization with thin layer chromatography. Lithocholic acid could be identified as a minor component of that mixture. The same composition of metabolites could be traced after injection of labelled cholesterol in rat liver in vivo.