A dietary factor concerned in coprosterol formation

Abstract

A dietetic factor is contained in brain and other organs, but not in muscle and milk, which is essential for the conversion of cholesterol into coprosterol by the animal organism. The factor is thermostable, insoluble in water, acetone, ether or petrol, but soluble in hot 85% alcohol. Thudichum''s "white matter," deposited on cooling alcoholic extracts of brain powder (free from cholesterol and unsaturated phospha-tides), is rich in the factor. A specimen of Thudichum''s original phrenosin from human brain, as well as other preps. of phrenosin from ox brain, effected a conversion of cholesterol into coprosterol to the extent of 80% of the total fecal sterols.