Effect of beta-sitosterol on ultrastructure of liver cells in young and aged mice.

The effects of beta-sitosterol on liver ultrastructure were studied using young and aged male mice. Both groups of mice were fed a beta-sitosterol or a control diet. The beta-sitosterol diet contained 1% beta-sitosterol. Ultrastructural differences in the liver cells were evident between two groups fed the two diets. The number of peroxisomes was significantly greater in the liver cells of both young and aged mice fed the beta-sitosterol diet than in those fed the control diet. There were also significant differences in the maximum length of lipid droplets between the young and aged mice fed the beta-sitosterol diet. These results suggest that beta-sitosterol affects liver ultrastructure, and that some ultrastructural differences in liver cells exist between young and aged mice fed the beta-sitosterol diets.