FIGURE 2.

Analysis of cholesteryl esters, cholesterol biosynthetic intermediates, and sterol synthesis in WT and hmgcr knock-in mice. Male mice (6–8 weeks of age, 5–6 mice/group) were fed ad libitum a chow diet before study. Livers (A–C) or brains and testes (E) were collected, and the amounts of free cholesterol, cholesteryl esters, and cholesterol biosynthetic intermediates were determined by a colorimetric assay (A and E) or by LC-MS/MS (C) as described under “Experimental Procedures.” Error bars, S.E. D, male mice (6–8 weeks of age, 5–6 mice/group) were fed a chow diet ad libitum and injected intraperitoneally with ³H-labeled water (50 mCi in 0.2 ml of isotonic saline). One hour later, tissues were removed for measurement of ³H-labeled fatty acids and digitonin-precipitable sterols. Each bar represents the mean ± S.E. of the values from 5 or 6 mice. 24,25-DHL, 24,25-dihydrolanosterol; t-MAS, testis-specific meiosis-activating sterol; 7-Dehydrochol., 7-dehydrocholesterol. *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01; N.S., not significant.