Reduction of Adrenal-Steroid Production by an Inhibitor of Cholesterol Biosynthesis

Abstract

SINCE cholesterol is an important if not essential precursor of steroid hormones, interference with its formation could result in reduced synthesis of adrenal steroid hormones. An agent that effectively interferes with cholesterol synthesis has become available. Triparanol (p-β-diethylaminoethoxy-phenyl-1-[p-tolyl]-2-[p-chlorophenyl]) ethanol is an efficient inhibitor of cholesterol synthesis.1 Frantz, Mobberley and Schroepfer2 and Avigan et al.3 have demonstrated that triparanol prevents the conversion of 24-dehydrocholesterol (desmosterol) to cholesterol (Fig. 1). Blohm, Kariya and Laughlin4 produced a reduction in adrenocortical cholesterol content and adrenal hypertrophy in rats by pretreatment with triparanol.Preliminary studies5 suggested that triparanol is an effective inhibitor of cortisol and . . .