1909.] Destiny of Cholesterol in the Animal Organism. 



247 



Table XXXII.— Inhibitory Effect of Serum of Eabbit fed on Phytosterol in 

 addition to Ordinary Bran and Wheat-germ in 10-per-cent. Solution of 

 Physiological Salt (Eabbit 16). 



Amount of blood, 

 5-per-cent. 

 suspension. 



Amount 

 of serum. 



Amount of NaCl, 

 "85 per cent. 



Amount of saponin, 

 "01 per cent. 



Eesult. 



c.c. 



c.c. 



c.c. 



c.c. 





2 



0-25 



2-75 



1 



Hsemolysed 



2 



0-5 



2-5 



1 



A trace haemolysis 



•2 



1 



2 



1 



No haemolysis 



2 



1-5 



1-5 



1 





These experiments fully confirm the conclusion arrived at from a com- 

 parison of the sera fed on extracted bran and on ordinary bran + wheat-germ. 



Conclusions. 



1. When cholesterol is given with the food of rabbits, some is absorbed 

 and finds its way into the blood stream as free cholesterol, only a portion of 

 the total cholesterol given in the food is absorbed, the rest being excreted 

 unchanged. The amount of cholesterol which finds its way into the blood 

 stream was not increased in our experiments by increasing the amount given 

 in the food. It would appear probable, therefore, that the animals only take 

 up such an amount of cholesterol as they can utilise. 



2. Cholesterol when in the form of esters undergoes hydrolysis in part, at 

 any rate, during digestion, and appears in the blood stream as free 

 cholesterol. 



'6. When animals are fed on phytosterol, this substance is in part absorbed, 

 just as in the case of cholesterol, and appears in the blood stream either 

 itself or in the form of cholesterol. The latter point can, however, only be 

 decided by the examination of very large quantities of the blood of animals 

 fed on phytosterol. 



Experiments are now in progress which we hope will decide this question. 



We take this opportunity of expressing our thanks to the Government 

 Grant Committee of the Eoyal Society for assistance in carrying out this 

 work. 



