Cholesterol Esterase Activity of Rat Lymph. ∗

Summary

Incubation of rat thoracic duct lymph at 37°C did not affect lymph cholesterol partition. Lymph also failed to cause esterification of added cholesterol when included alone, or with oleic acid and sodium taurocholate. Likewise, there was a lack of hydrolysis of added cholesterol oleate, with or without sodium taurocholate inclusion. Adjustment of the pH of incubation digests containing cholesterol or cholesterol oleate did not result in changes in the ratio of free and esterified cholesterol. From the present data it is apparent that rat thoracic duct lymph does not possess synthetic or hydrolytic cholesterol esterase activity.