Cholesterol synthesis in the small intestine and adipose tissue of suckling rats: the effect of litter size.
Rats were raised in large (14/dam), medium (8/dam) and small (4/dam) litters. The rate of in vitro synthesis of cholesterol from 3H2O in the proximal and distal parts of the small intestine decreased from birth to a low 14 days later and then increased again by day 21. The rate of synthesis in both parts of the gut on day 6 after birth was lowest in the 14/dam group. On day 21 after birth the rate was highest in the 14/dam group in the proximal and lowest in the distal gut. Thus in the early postnatal period low rates of intestinal cholesterol synthesis correlate with low plasma cholesterol values. In white adipose tissue the low rate of cholesterol synthesis remained unaltered up to day 21 in the 8/dam, and 4/dam groups. However, it continuously increased in the 14/dam group being about threefold higher than in the other two groups on day 21.
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000828:Animal Population Groups / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling / Q000378:metabolism*; D001835:Body Weight; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases / Q000378:metabolism; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008098:Litter Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D002784:Cholesterol; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases