Sterol precursors of cholesterol in adult human brain.

Adult human brain contains cholestanol and two series of cholesterol precursors having 30, 29, 28, and 27 carbon atoms; one has an unsaturated steroid nucleus, and the other is unsaturated in both nucleus and side chain. The ability of preparations of brain to incorporate a specific precursor into cholesterol, as well as into these sterol metabolites in vitro, indicates that cholesterol synthesis continues long after brain maturation ceases.