[Comparative studies in cholesterol metabolism in the salivary glands and the livers of mice (author's transl)].

The comparative radioisotopic studies in cholesterol metabolism between salivary glands and livers were done. 1. In the salivary glands, the cholesterol biosynthesis from acetate-1-14C or mevalonic acid-2-14C in vitro and in vivo, the elimination rate of cholesterol-4-14C and the uptake of cholesterol-4-14C following a single subcutaneous injection, were lowered compared with liver. 2. The rate of cholesterol catabolism in the salivary gland, determined by cholesterol-4-14C injection, were very less than in liver. 3. When the animals were consuming a diet labeled with cholesterol-3H of constant specific activity using cholesterol balance techniques, the isotopic steady state in both salivary gland and liver was within about 20 days and remained essentially constant thereafter, while specific activity of the salivary glands were remarkably lower than that of livers.