DIETARY-CHOLESTEROL LOWERS THE ACTIVITY OF BUTYRYLCHOLINESTERASE (EC 3.1.1.8), BUT ELEVATES THAT OF ESTERASE-1 (EC 3.1.1.1) IN PLASMA OF RATS

The question addressed is whether an increased intake of cholesterol a ffects esterase-1 (EC 3.1.1.1; ES-1) and butyrylcholinesterase (EC3.1. 1.8) activity in plasma. Rats were fed on a purified diet either witho ut or with cholesterol (10 g/kg) added at the expense of the carbohydr ate source. Dietary cholesterol significantly decreased plasma butyryl cholinesterase activity, but raised plasma ES-1 activity. Evidence is discussed, suggesting that plasma butyrylcholinesterase is involved in plasma cholesterol metabolism, whereas esterase-1 is involved in inte stinal cholesterol absorption.