Effect of exogenous steroids on sterol synthesis in L-cell mouse fibroblasts.

A number of steroids have been tested in an L-cell tissue culture system to determine their effects on cellular sterol biosynthesis and cellular growth. Cholesterol, desmosterol, lathosterol, 7-dehydrocholesterol, and cholestanone reduce de novo synthesis and produce only limited toxicity at high concentrations of exogenous sterol. Considerable cellular toxicity is observed when cells are grown in the presence of coprostanol and Delta(4)-cholestenone. No marked effect on either cell growth or sterol biosynthesis is produced by cholestanol, beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, ergosterol, cholesteryl oleate, or cholestane.