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Journal of Lipid Research, Vol. 42, 1089-1095, July 2001
Copyright © 2001 by Lipid Research, Inc.

Original Article

Neutral sterols of rat epididymis: high concentrations of dehydrocholesterols in rat caput epididymidis

Bernhard Lindenthala,d, Tayseer A. Aldaghlasd, Joanne K. Kelleherd, Stephan M. Henkelb, René Tolbac, Gerhard Haidlb, and Klaus von Bergmanna
a Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Bonn, Sigmund Freud Str. 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany
b Department of Dermatology/Andrology Unit, University of Bonn, Sigmund Freud Str. 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany
c Division of Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, University of Bonn, Sigmund Freud Str. 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany
d Department of Physiology and Experimental Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037

Correspondence to: Klaus von Bergmann, vonbergmann{at}uni-bonn.de (E-mail)

Phospholipids and sterols are known to have multiple functions in reproductive tissue of mammals. High concentrations of the cholesterol precursor desmosterol have been described in testis, epididymis, and spermatozoa of various species. These findings and the recent discovery of some cholesterol precursors as meiosis-activating sterols suggest important functions of cholesterol precursors in fertility. Many sterol intermediates appear from the 19-step conversion of lanosterol, the first sterol synthesized in the cascade of cholesterol synthesis, to cholesterol. The biochemical basis of the genetically inherited Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome has been described as a defective conversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol to cholesterol. Since this discovery, interest has focused on this special cholesterol precursor. Here, we report high concentrations of 7- and 8-dehydrocholesterol in caput epididymidis and spermatozoa derived from caput epididymidis of Sprague-Dawley and Wistar rats, which comprised up to 30% of total sterols. In contrast to caput epididymidis, 7- and 8-dehydrocholesterol were barely detected in cauda epididymidis or testis. Desmosterol increased several times from caput to cauda epididymidis.

This is the first report of the natural appearance of high concentrations of dehydrocholesterols in mammalian tissue, and it underlines the putative importance of cholesterol precursors in reproductive tissue. — Lindenthal, B., T. A. Aldaghlas, J. K. Kelleher, S. M. Henkel, R. Tolba, G. Haidl, and K. von Bergmann. Neutral sterols of rat epididymis: high concentrations of dehydrocholesterols in rat caput epididymidis. J. Lipid Res. 2001. 42: 1089;–1095.

Supplementary key words: cholesterol, desmosterol, 7-dehydrocholesterol, spermatozoa, testis, Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry


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