Journal of Lipid Research, Vol. 5, 422-431, July 1964
Copyright © 1964 by Lipid Research, Inc.
Localization and biosynthesis of 7-dehydrocholesterol in rat skin
J. L. Gaylor and Frances M. Sault
Graduate School of Nutrition, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
By differential assay, the concentration of 7-dehydrocholesterol in the dead keratin layer, the epidermal mucosa, the sebaceous glands and associated appendages of the epidermis, and the dermis of rat skin was determined; 85% of the 7-dehydrocholesterol was isolated from slices of skin that contained surface keratin and sebaceous glands.
Slices of skin were incubated with labeled acetate in vitro. Labeled 7-dehydrocholesterol was separated from other labeled skin sterols as the hydrolyzed 5
, 8
Diels-Alder adduct. Approximately 80% of the labeled 7-dehydrocholesterol was isolated from slices of rat skin that contained sebaceous glands.
The formation of cutaneous 7-dehydrocholesterol was studied in vivo by the injection of labeled acetate. More than 80% of the labeled cutaneous 7-dehydrocholesterol was isolated with the sebaceous tissue. Time-course studies suggested that
7-cholestenol may be a precursor of cutaneous 7-dehydrocholesterol.
Submitted on July 8, 1963
Accepted on February 17, 1964