Abstract
Regulation of cholesterol metabolism in the liver were investigated using rabbit isolated hepatocytes. CS-514, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, inhibited cholesterol synthesis from [14C]acetate in rabbit isolated hepatocytes, and increased uptake of LDL, but not of HDL. Dexamethasone did not have significant effect on cholesterol synthesis, bile acid synthesis and LDL uptake into isolated hepatocytes. These results were not necessarily coincident with the changes of plasma lipoprotein levels such as hypercholesterolemia in hypercortisonism. Glycyrrhizin inhibited cholesterol synthesis, and enhanced LDL uptake and promoted the synthesis of bile acid from LDL-cholesterol. These results are consistent with in vivo observation that glycyrrhizin has cholesterollowering effect and enhances excretion of bile acid.
