The Incorporation of Acetate-2-14C and Mevalonate-2-14C into Cholesterol During Vitamin B12 Deficiency

SummaryCholesterol biosynthesis was studied in male rats from mothers fed a vitamin B12 deficient diet during pregnancy and lactation. Deficient males had significantly lower plasma cholesterol levels, the ester fraction being diminished. Adrenal cholesterol was appreciably higher, relative to levels observed in the B12 fed rats, while cholesterol content of testes and brain was not significantly different between the two groups. Vitamin B12 deficiency enhanced the rate of acetate incorporation into liver cholesterol while mevalonate incorporation remained unchanged after 30 min and 2 hr but was markedly lower in the deficient group after 4 hr. Mevalonate incorporation into adrenal and testicular cholesterol was also reduced at 4 hr but incorporation into brain cholesterol was unchanged.