Journal of Lipid Research, Vol. 8, 558-564, November 1967
Copyright © 1967 by Lipid Research, Inc.

Placental transfer of cholesterol-4-¹⁴C into rabbit and guinea pig fetus

William E. Connor and Don S. Lin

Cardiovascular Research Laboratories, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa 52240

A tracer dose of cholesterol-4-¹⁴C was given daily in the diet of six pregnant guinea pigs to establish an isotopic steady state. At the time of parturition, maternal and fetal blood and fetal tissues were collected and analyzed for cholesterol content and cholesterol specific activity. A comparison of these specific activities in neonatal and maternal serum indicated that about 22% of the fetal serum cholesterol was transferred from maternal blood. In the newborn, tissues generally had the same cholesterol specific activity as serum. Brain tissue was an exception in having a specific activity only 8.4% of that of serum. Dietary cholesterol did not increase serum cholesterol levels in the newborn but did increase the percentage of fetal cholesterol derived from the maternal circulation. The rapid transfer of cholesterol-4-¹⁴C across the placenta was indicated by the appearance of this isotope in the newborn 2 days after its administration to pregnant rabbits. A considerable amount of the cholesterol content of newborn guinea pigs and rabbits originated from the maternal blood.

Supplementary key words cholesterol-4-¹⁴C • metabolism • stability • dietary cholesterol • isotopic steady state • pregnancy • fetal cholesterol • origin • synthesis • newborn • rabbit • guinea pig

Submitted on May 10, 1967
Accepted on June 22, 1967

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