Observations Concerning the Production and Excretion of Cholesterol in Mammals

Abstract

The possible role of the hepatic reticuloendothelial system in the synthesis as well as the disposition of endogenously produced cholesterol was studied in the rat by various means. Our results suggest that this system does not synthesize significant quantities of cholesterol nor participate in the egress of endogenously produced cholesterol from the plasma into the liver. It does however, play an important, perhaps indispensable, role in ridding blood of cholesterol derived from the diet.