Cholesterol ester content and activities of the ester metabolizing enzymes in jpmsd mouse brain

The free and esterified cholesterol content, and the activities of cholesterol esterifying and the ester hydrolyzing enzyme in brain tissue from myelin synthesis-deficient mutant jpmsd mice and normal littermates were determined. Results showed that cholesterol ester content was high in the brain of jpmsd-affected mice and that the esterification of cholesterol in vitro, with or without added fatty acids was also high in the brain tissue of the affected mutant mice. The data suggest that the increase in cholesterol ester concentrations in the brain of jpmsd-affected mutant mice occurs as a result of increased synthesis rather than decreased hydrolysis.