In recent years, a number of genes that are involved in cholesterol synthes
is, its systemic or intercellular transport or lipid metabolism in general
have been found to play important roles during embryonic development, In th
is article, we present a brief overview of these genes, their molecular fun
ctions as we understand them to date and our current interpretation of poss
ible mechanisms by which genetic deficiency states might affect the develop
ment of the embryo, in particular the formation of the central nervous syst
em.