Intestinal and Fecal Sterols in Germfree and Conventional Rats. Bile Acids and Steroids 172.

Abstract

The predominant sterois in feces and intestinal contents of germfree and control rats have been studied by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Cholesterol, lathosterol. methostenol, campesterol, stigmasterol, and [beta]-sitosterol were the predominant sterois in feces from germfree rats. The latter three sterois were derived from the diet. The same six sterois were found in the small intestine and the cecum, cholesterol being by far the major sterol in the small intestine. No coprostanol or coprostanol analogues of the plant sterois were found in the germ-free rats. Coprostanol, cholesterol, lathosterol, methostenol, 24[alpha]-ethyl-coprostanol, and [beta] -sitosterol were the predominant sterois in the feces from the control animals. Only small amounts of coprostanol were seen in the small intestine whereas in the cecum and feces this was the major sterol.