The cholesterol synthesis was studied in germfree and conventional rats by assaying the HMG CoA (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA) reductase activity in the liver microsomal fraction. Germfree rats had a decreased activity (21.7 ± 3.8 pmole/ mg of protein/min) compared with conventional rats (50.5 ± 2.9). The results are discussed in relation to present knowledge of cholesterol metabolism in the two types of animals.
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Einarsson et al. (1977) studied this question.