[Effect of nicotinic acid derivatives on the cholesterol metabolism with special regard to biosynthesis, absorption and excretion of cholesterol in the salivary gland (author's transl)].

The cholesterol metabolism of the salivary gland of mice fed on a diet containing 0.5% nicotinic acid derivative, 2, 2, 6, 6, tetrakis--(nicotinoyl-oxymethyl)--cyclohexanol (K-31) was as follows. 1. Total cholesterol level of sublingual and submaxially glands decreased in mice fed on normal diet as well as cholesterol-added diet. 2. The in vivo cholesterol biosynthesis from the acetate-1-14C increased in the sublingual gland, while it was not affected in the submaxillary gland. However, in vitro cholesterol synthesis decreased in both sublingual and submaxillary glands. 3. The disappearance of cholesterol-4-14C injected into the mice was more rapid in the K-31 treated mice than in the control after 30 days. 4. The incorporation of cholesterol-7-3h with a constant specific radioactivity administered orally for 37 days was reduced in the sublingual and submaxillary glands of K-31 treated mice. 5. When the mice were maintained on cholesterol-added diet for 21 days after cholesterol-4-14C injection, the excretion of sterol-14C in the feces was increased in K-31 treated mice. Thus, it was considered that the decrease of the cholesterol level of salivary glands by oral administration of K-31 is due to the increase of the excretion of cholesterol, the decrease of the uptake of the external cholesterol and the increase of excretion of sterol in the feces. These alterations of the cholesterol metabolism appear to induce cholesterol biosynthesis.