The origin and destiny of cholesterol in the animal organism. Part VIII.—On the cholesterol content of the liver of rabbits under various diets and during inanition

Abstract

In parts V and VII of this series of papers evidence was brought forward to show that when cholesterol, free and in the form of esters, is given with the food of rabbits, some is absorbed and finds its way into the blood stream, and that an increase of both free cholesterol and cholesterol esters takes place in the blood. This result affords support to the working hypothesis with regard to the origin and destiny of cholesterol in the animal organism, which we were led to formulate in an earlier paper, viz., that cholesterol is a constituent constantly present in all cells are broken down in the life process the cholestrol is not excreted as a waste product but is utilised in the formation of new cells. A function of the liver is to break down dead cells, e. g ., blood corpuscles, and eliminate their cholesterol in the bile. After the bile has been poured into the intestine in the processes of digestion, the cholesterol is re-absorbed, possibly in the form of esters, along with the bile salts and is carried in the blood stream to the various centres and tissues for re-incorporation into the constitution of new cells.