[Cholesterol synthesis in the skin of rats with rickets].

The rachitogenic diet causes an inhibition of cholesterol synthesis in rat skin. Intensity of 2-14S-acetate incorporation into cholesterol precursors (matastenol, lathosterol, 7-dehydrocholesterol) and cholesterol drops considerably. UV-irradiation of animals suffering from rachitis intensifies cholesterol synthesis in skin. Simulteneously an increase is detected in the metabolic fund of cholesterol synthesis precursors, including 7-dehydrocholesterol, which is necessary to form antirachitic compounds in the organism.