INHIBITION OF CHOLESTEROL-BIOSYNTHESIS IN RABBIT HEPATOCYTES BY 3-BETA-(OMEGA-HYDROXYALKOXY)CHOLEST-5-ENES

3 beta-(2-Hydroxyethoxy)-, 3 beta-(4-hydroxybutoxy)-, 3 beta-(6-hydrox yhexyloxy)-, 3 beta-(9-hydroxynonyloxy)-, and 3 beta-(2-hydroxy-2-[H-3 ]ethoxy)cholest-5-ene were synthesized, By means of a spin probe, the influence of the synthesized compounds on the phase transition of dimy ristoylphosphatidylcholine were estimated. Time and dose dependences o f the incorporation of 3 beta-(2-hydroxy-2-[H-3]ethoxy)cholest-5-ene i nto rabbit hepatocytes (the primary culture) were studied. 3 beta-(2-H ydroxyethoxy)- and 3 beta-(4-hydroxybutoxy)cholest-5-enes were shown t o inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis from [C-14]acetate in rabbit hepato cyte cultures upon a 24-hour preincubation.