The Influence of Growth and Myelination on the Deposition and Metabolism of Lipids in the Brain

Development of Hydrolytic Cholesterol Esterase Activity in Rat Brain*

“…A method was developed by which the contribution of endogenous cholesterol esters to the substrate pool for the hydrolytic enzyme could be derived from measured initial rates of hydrolysis of the labeled substrate. The net amounts of cholesterol esters hydrolyzed during the incubations could thus T A he brain rapidly acquires cholesterol during the brief period of myelination (Mendel and Leavenworth, 1908;Waelsch et al, 1941). Only free cholesterol is present in the mature brain, but the esterified form has been found during early stages of development (Mandelef al., 1949;Brante, 1949; Adams and Davison, 1959; Clarenburg et al, 1963;Grafnetter et al, 1965).…”