Cholesterol turnover in the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.)

Abstract

Turnover of cholesterol in the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.), was investigated by feeding cholesterol-4-C14 in the diet and examining periodically the specific radioactivity of the total carcass cholesterol. It was found that the movement of cholesterol into and out of the roach tissues was much slower than has been reported for mammals. The ester cholesterol pool was found to equilibrate slowly with the free cholesterol pool. At least 40% of the carcass cholesterol was found to be exchangeable with the dietary cholesterol.