In vitro uptake and hydrolysis, by rat tissues, of cholesterol esters of a very low density, chyle lipoprotein fraction

Abstract

A very low density, lipoprotein fraction of chyle containing cholesterol-C14 (of which about 70% or more was in the esterified form) was incubated with various rat tissues. The tissues and their incubation media were then analyzed for the C14 contained in the esterified and free sterol fractions. Adipose tissue, adrenal gland, mucosa of the small intestine, liver, kidney, and muscle incorporated the cholesterol-C14 of the chylomicrons and hydrolyzed the esters. Adipose tissue, adrenal gland, and mucosa of the small intestine showed the greatest hydrolytic activity. On the basis of these and other, in vivo, observations, the conclusion is drawn that, while the liver removes the bulk of the cholesterol esters of very low density chyle lipoproteins from the circulation, all tissues that incorporate them hydrolyze them.