title: Distribution of cholesterol 24-hydroxylase in the monkey brain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cholesterol 24-hydroxylase catalyzes the conversion of cholesterol to 24-hydroxycholesterol, which is a major pathway for cholesterol elimination from the brain, since 24-hydroxycholesterol can readily cross the blood brain barrier. The present study aimed to elucidate the distribution of cholesterol 24-hydroxylase in the monkey brain.
  
  
  METHODS
  The distribution of cholesterol 24-hydroxylase in the monkey brain was examined using Western blot and immunohistochemistry methods, and was observed under light microscopy and electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High levels of cholesterol 24-hydroxylase were observed in projection neurons and neuropil in structures derived from telencephalon, including the cerebral neocortex, hippocampus, amygdala, nucleus basalis of Meynert, and striatum. Electron microscopy revealed that the enzyme was localized in the axon terminals. One the other hand, cholesterol 24-hydroxylase was expressed at a lower level in the thalamus, globus pallidus and brainstem.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high level of cholesterol 24-hydroxylase in the telencephalon possibly reflects a high rate of cholesterol turnover in this part of brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China. hex@bucm.edu.cn
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Wei-Yi
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Hua
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000072556:Cholesterol 24-Hydroxylase; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019581:Neuropil / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases / Q000378:metabolism*; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases; D000072556:Cholesterol 24-Hydroxylase