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Cholesterol Metabolism

  • Chapter
Metabolic Reactions in the Nervous System

Abstract

Cholesterol is found in high concentration in adult nervous tissue. Large amounts of the sterol are found in the white matter and histochemical studies show cholesterol to be a major constituent of the myelin sheath. The subcellular distribution of cholesterol has also been determined in fractions separated by differential and gradient centrifugation. All membrane fractions contain cholesterol but the highest proportion is found in the myelin layer (Table I). The localization of cholesterol in membranes and especially its presence in myelin has an overriding influence on the metabolism of brain sterols. Thus, cholesterol synthesis is highly active during myelination of the brain (see LeBaron, Chapter 21 of Volume III of this series) whereas in the adult it appears from isotope studies that there is relatively little synthesis and turnover of cholesterol.

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  1. Department of Biochemistry, Charing Cross Hospital Medical School, London, England

    Alan N. Davison

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  1. New York State Research Institute for Neurochemistry and Drug Addiction, Ward’s Island, New York, New York, USA

    Abel Lajtha

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© 1970 Plenum Press, New York

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Davison, A.N. (1970). Cholesterol Metabolism. In: Lajtha, A. (eds) Metabolic Reactions in the Nervous System. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-7160-5_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-7160-5_20

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  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4615-7162-9

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