Cholesterol Journal Articles

Record 4661 to 4680

Effect of a garlic oil preparation on serum lipoproteins and cholesterol metabolism: a randomized controlled trial
Berthold, H. K., T. Sudhop, et al. (1998), Jama 279(23): 1900-2.
Abstract: CONTEXT: Garlic-containing drugs have been used in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia even though their efficacy is not generally established. Little is known about the mechanisms of action of the possible effects on cholesterol in humans. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the hypocholesterolemic effect of garlic oil and to investigate the possible mechanism of action. DESIGN: Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: Outpatient lipid clinic. PATIENTS: We investigated 25 patients (mean age, 58 years) with moderate hypercholesterolemia. INTERVENTION: Steam-distilled garlic oil preparation (5 mg twice a day) vs placebo each for 12 weeks with wash-out periods of 4 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum lipoprotein concentrations, cholesterol absorption, and cholesterol synthesis. RESULTS: Baseline lipoprotein profiles were (mean SD): total cholesterol, 7.53 (0.75) mmol/L (291 29 mg/dL); low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), 5.35 (0.78) mmol/L (207 30 mg/dL); high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), 1.50 (0.41) mmol/L (58 16 mg/dL); and triglycerides, 1.45 (0.73) mmol/L (127 64 mg/ dL). Lipoprotein levels were virtually unchanged at the end of both treatment periods (mean difference 95% confidence interval): total cholesterol, 0.085 (-0.201 to 0.372) mmol/L (3.3 -7.8 to 14.4 mg/dL), P=.54; LDL-C, 0.001 (-0.242 to 0.245) mmol/L (0.04 -9.4 to 9.5 mg/dL), P=.99; HDL-C, 0.050 (-0.028 to 0.128) mmol/L (1.9 -1.1 to 4.9 mg/dL), P=.20; triglycerides, 0.047 (-0.229 to 0.135) mmol/L (4.2 -20.3 to 12.0) mg/dL, P=.60. Cholesterol absorption (37.5% 10.5% vs 38.3% 10.7%0, P=.58), cholesterol synthesis (12.7 6.5 vs 13.4 6.6 mg/kg of body weight per day, P=.64), mevalonic acid excretion (192 66 vs 187 66 microg/d, P=.78), and changes in the ratio of lathosterol to cholesterol in serum (4.4% 24.3% vs 10.6% 21.1%, P=.62) were not different in garlic and placebo treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The commercial garlic oil preparation investigated had no influence on serum lipoproteins, cholesterol absorption, or cholesterol synthesis. Garlic therapy for treatment of hypercholesterolemia cannot be recommended on the basis of this study.

Effect of a high fat/cholesterol diet with or without eicosapentaenoic acid on plasma lipids, lipoproteins and lipid transfer protein activity in the marmoset
Abbey, M., P. M. Clifton, et al. (1990), Atherosclerosis 81(3): 163-74.
Abstract: Marmosets fed a diet supplemented with 0.2% cholesterol and 10% sheep fat (by weight) developed hypercholesterolemia with a 4-fold increase in plasma cholesterol (4.28 +/- 0.57-16.38 +/- 4.22 mmol/l, mean +/- SD, P less than 0.001). This was due mainly to a 5-fold increase in the intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) fraction (d = 1.006-1.063 g/ml). The proportion of plasma cholesterol in high density lipoproteins (HDL) decreased from 56% to 25% although HDL cholesterol increased from 2.40 +/- 0.42 to 4.09 +/- 0.92 mmol/l (P less than 0.001), and HDL particle radius increased from 5.10 +/- 0.18 nm to 6.06 +/- 0.73 nm (P less than 0.05). Plasma lipid transfer protein (LTP) activity increased 2.5-fold in whole plasma and 2-fold in lipoprotein-deficient plasma. The atherogenic lipoprotein profile was attenuated by adding 0.8% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5 n - 3, as the ethyl ester) to the atherogenic diet. Plasma cholesterol increased only 55% to 6.64 +/- 2.55 mmol/l with only an 80% increase in lipoproteins in the d = 1.006-1.063 g/ml fraction and a more favourable proportion of plasma cholesterol in HDL (44%) than without EPA. LTP activity was reduced to 1.7-fold above control in whole plasma by addition of EPA to the atherogenic diet. There was a positive correlation between plasma cholesterol and LTP activity in whole plasma (r = 0.89, P less than 0.001) and in lipoprotein-deficient plasma (r = 0.67, P less than 0.001). EPA therefore attenuated some of the adverse effects of a 0.2% cholesterol, 10% sheep fat diet on plasma lipids and lipoproteins and induced a less atherogenic profile.

Effect of a lipid-lowering agent or a high-cholesterol diet on focal glomerulosclerosis in hyperlipidemic rats
Yamasaki, K. and Y. Yoshikawa (1995), Lab Anim Sci 45(1): 54-8.
Abstract: Hyperlipidemic rats given a diet supplemented with 1% probucol (4,4'-isopropylidenedithiobis 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol) or 4% cholesterol with 1% cholic acid from 4 to 20 weeks of age were evaluated for the effect of a lipid-lowering agent or a high-cholesterol diet on focal glomerulosclerosis. Although mean cholesterol and phospholipid concentrations in hyperlipidemic rats given probucol were lower than those in control hyperlipidemic rats, there was no difference in urinary protein content or renal histologic findings when the two groups were compared. Mean cholesterol, phospholipid, urea nitrogen, and creatinine concentrations in hyperlipidemic rats given a high-cholesterol diet were greater than those in hyperlipidemic rats given a normal diet, and the glomerular sclerotic lesions became more severe.

Effect of a lipid-rich fraction from boiled coffee on serum cholesterol
Zock, P. L., M. B. Katan, et al. (1990), Lancet 335(8700): 1235-7.
Abstract: Scandinavian-style boiled coffee, which raises serum cholesterol, was found to contain more lipid material than drip filter coffee, which does not. Ten volunteers consumed a lipid-enriched fraction from boiled coffee for six weeks: the supplement provided 77 g of water, 1.3 g of lipid, and 1.6 g of other solids per day. Serum cholesterol rose in every subject; the mean rise was 0.74 mmol/l after three weeks (range -0.09 to 1.48 mmol/l) and 1.06 SD 0.37 mmol/l or 23% after six weeks (range 0.48 to 1.52 mmol/l). The increase was mainly due to low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, which rose by 29%, but very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was also raised, as evidenced by a 55% rise in triglycerides. High-density-lipoprotein cholesterol was unchanged. After supplementation had ended, lipid levels returned to baseline. Boiled coffee thus contains a lipid that powerfully raises serum cholesterol.

Effect of a modified milk fat and calcium in purified diets on cholesterol metabolism in hamsters
Pellizzon, M., J. S. Ana, et al. (2004), Lipids 39(5): 441-8.
Abstract: Modification of milk fat both by partially replacing saturated FA with oleic acid (18:1) and by increasing calcium intake independently reduces plasma cholesterol. Whether modification of both factors together would synergistically reduce plasma cholesterol is unknown. Seventy-two male golden Syrian hamsters were separated into four diet treatment groups (n = 18/group) and fed ad libitum for 7 wk. Diets contained either modified milk fat (MMF) or regular milk fat (RMF) with either 0.5% (MMF and RMF) or 1.3% calcium (w/w) (MMFC and RMFC). All diets contained 11% test fat, 4% soybean oil, and 0.15% cholesterol (w/w). During the last week, feces were collected for three consecutive days for analysis of fecal FA, cholesterol, and calcium excretion. Overnight-fasted animals were sacrificed, and plasma and livers were collected for lipid analysis. Neither MMF nor additional calcium significantly affected plasma lipids. However, significant interactions existed between MMF and additional calcium for the ratio of LDL cholesterol to HDL cholesterol (LDL/HDL), indicating that increased calcium intake reduced this ratio only in RMF animals. In addition, MMF reduced LDL/HDL relative to RMF. MMF significantly increased hepatic total and esterified cholesterol. Additional calcium significantly increased fecal calcium and saturated FA (SFA) excretion, whereas MMF significantly reduced SFA excretion. RMFC induced the highest excretion of 16:0 among all groups. Replacement of SFA with 18:1 in the MMF reduced the impact of high calcium on LDL/HDL. Additional calcium reduced LDL/HDL only in the presence of RMF, which may be achieved through an increased excretion of 16:0.

Effect of a novel squalene epoxidase inhibitor, NB-598, on the regulation of cholesterol metabolism in Hep G2 cells
Hidaka, Y., H. Hotta, et al. (1991), J Biol Chem 266(20): 13171-7.
Abstract: We have reported previously that NB-598 competitively inhibits human squalene epoxidase and strongly inhibits cholesterol synthesis from 14Cacetate in cultured cells. Furthermore, multiple oral administration of NB-598 decreased serum cholesterol levels in dogs (Horie, M., Tsuchiya, Y., Hayashi, M., Iida, Y., Iwasawa, Y., Nagata, Y., Sawasaki, Y., Fukuzumi, H., Kitani, K., and Kamei, T. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 18075-18078). In the present study, the effects of NB-598 on 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase and low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) receptor were examined using a human hepatoma cell line Hep G2. Incubation of Hep G2 cells with NB-598 for 18 h increased HMG-CoA reductase activity in a dose-dependent manner. However, the increase in activity induced by NB-598 was lower than that induced by L-654,969 (a potent HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor), although NB-598 inhibited cholesterol synthesis more potently than L-654,969. On the other hand, HMG-CoA reductase mRNA was increased to the same extent by both inhibitors. These results demonstrate that NB-598 does not inhibit the synthesis of non-sterol derivative(s) of mevalonate, which regulate HMG-CoA reductase activity at the post-transcriptional level. NB-598 increased the binding of 125I-LDL to Hep G2 cells. LDL receptor mRNA was also induced by NB-598. In the presence of LDL or cycloheximide, NB-598 did not increase LDL receptor activity. These results demonstrate that the induction of LDL receptor activity by NB-598 is due to increases in mRNA and protein through the inhibition of cholesterol synthesis at the squalene epoxidase step. From these observations, squalene epoxidase inhibitor is expected to be highly effective in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and also is very useful as a research tool for studying the regulation of cholesterol metabolism.

Effect of a nutrition education program on the reduction of serum cholesterol level in Veterans Administration outpatients
Dahl, B. R. and M. H. Read (1995), J Am Diet Assoc 95(6): 702-3.

Effect of a peroxysomal proliferator agent on intracellular cholesterol accumulation in cultured fibroblasts from Niemann-Pick type C disease patients
Beheregaray, A. P., F. T. Souza, et al. (2003), Clin Chim Acta 336(1-2): 137-42.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Niemann-Pick type C (NP-C) disease is a lysosomal storage disorder. It is possible that peroxisomes are also modified and their alterations can be an early event in the process of the disease. As the use of peroxisomal inducers restores the original function of the organelle, the importance of peroxisomes is further emphasized and can suggest future therapeutic interventions. METHODS: We treated fibroblast cultures from NP-C patients and normal individuals with 200 and 400 micromol/l clofibrate and evaluated its action on intracellular cholesterol content that was determined by filipin staining and quantitative measurement of unesterified cholesterol. RESULTS: The fibroblasts from NP-C patients that did not receive any drug presented a pattern of intense perinuclear fluorescence associated with the accumulation of unesterified cholesterol which was not observed in normal fibroblasts. Comparing the NP-C fibroblasts that were incubated with clofibrate and the same cells without this treatment, there were no changes in cholesterol content by filipin staining, but normal fibroblasts after incubation with this drug showed a slight increase in its cholesterol content. However, unesterified cholesterol was significantly increased in both cells treated with clofibrate when compared to untreated cells. CONCLUSIONS: Clofibrate is probably not useful for treatment of NP-C patients because it seems to contribute to an increase the cholesterol in the cells of these individuals.

Effect of a single oat bran cereal breakfast on serum cholesterol, lipoproteins, and apolipoproteins in patients with hyperlipoproteinemia type IIa
Bartram, P., S. Gerlach, et al. (1992), JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 16(6): 533-7.
Abstract: Serum cholesterol-lowering effects of oat bran-enriched diets have been indicated in several studies in which oat bran was given several times a day. Concomitant changes in the daily diet, ie, a diminished energy intake or changes in the composition of fats in the diet, also have been reported and used to explain the hypocholesterolemic effect of oats. The present study was designed to replace only the conventional continental breakfast by a single oat bran cereal muesli containing 60 g of oat bran and to measure the effects of this dietetic modification on serum lipids in 13 patients with hypercholesterolemia type IIa. Compared with a 3-week baseline period, total serum cholesterol (7.38 +/- 0.35 mmol/L, mean +/- SEM) was reduced by 10.9, 8.4, and 9.7% in the first, second, and third week of oat bran ingestion (p <.01). High-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol as well as apolipoprotein A1 decreased to the same extent (8 to 11%; p <.05) during the oat bran period, whereas a pronounced reduction of 25.8% was seen for apolipoprotein B100 (p <.01), which is a major component of low-density lipoprotein. Dietary data obtained by 3-day food records at baseline, oat bran, and follow-up period did not show any differences between the study periods except for dietary fiber, which was increased from 21.9 g/day to 42.4 g/day (p <.002) during the test period because of the daily oat bran intake.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of a single oral dose of antioxidant mixture (vitamin E, carotenoids) on the formation of cholesterol oxidation products after ex vivo LDL oxidation in humans
Linseisen, J., J. Hoffmann, et al. (1998), Eur J Med Res 3(1-2): 5-12.
Abstract: During oxidation of LDL not only polyunsaturated fatty acids and apolipoproteins but also cholesterol is affected. To test the preventive effect of vitamin E and carotenoids against metal ion-induced oxidative modification of the cholesterol moiety, LDL of five females (age 25-30 years) were enriched by single oral supplementation with a mixture of alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene, lycopene, canthaxanthin, and lutein. LDL was isolated from blood samples before as well as 10 and 24 hours after supplement intake. In the 10 and 24 hours samples, total concentration of the supplemented antioxidants increased significantly to 127% and 125% of the initial value, respectively. As a consequence, the lag phase until beginning of oxidative modification of fatty acids--measured in terms of lag phase time till diene production--significantly increased by 13% (10 h and 24 h). After stopping the oxidation process in all LDL samples (0 h, 10 h, 24 h) of one person when the maximal absorbance value of diene production in the 10 h sample was reached, a statistically significant reduction in the formation of cholesterol oxidation products (COP) could be measured. In the average, 10 h and 24 h after supplementation the COP concentration reached 84% and 86% of the 0 h-value, respectively. Except for 7 beta-hydroxycholesterol, all COP measured decreased by 10-20%. The results of the in vitro-model demonstrate that an antioxidant enrichment of LDL has the potential to protect also cholesterol (besides unsaturated fatty acids) against oxidative modification.

Effect of a taurine treatment on the regression of existing atherosclerotic lesions in rabbits fed on a high-cholesterol diet
Balkan, J., S. Oztezcan, et al. (2004), Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 68(5): 1035-9.
Abstract: We studied whether taurine has any regressive effect on existing atherosclerotic lesions and lipid peroxidation in rabbits fed on a high-cholesterol (HC) diet. The cholesterol, triglyceride, malondialdehyde (MDA) and diene conjugate (DC) levels, as well as the aortic histopathological findings were examined in rabbits that had been fed on a cholesterol-containing diet for 8 months 0.5% cholesterol (w/w) for 3 months and subsequently 0.25% cholesterol (w/w) for 5 months, and then for a further 4 months on a normal diet with or without taurine treatment 1% (w/v) in the drinking water. High levels of lipid and lipid peroxide induced by the HC diet were observed to decline in the plasma, liver and aorta of atherosclerotic rabbits, as well as a slight retardation in aortic atherosclerotic lesions during the regression period. Although no significant differences in the lipid and lipid peroxide levels in the plasma and aorta were found between the regressed groups with or without the taurine treatment, the extent of atherosclerotic lesions in the aorta was less in the taurine-treated regressed group than in the non-treated regressed group. However, the liver MDA and DC levels were lower in the regressed rabbits with the taurine treatment in the non-treated group. These results indicate that the taurine treatment may accelerate the regression of cholesterol-induced atherosclerotic lesions in rabbits without having any effect on the plasma and aorta lipid and lipid peroxide levels.

Effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on the high density lipoprotein cholesterol in simple obesity
Liu, Z. (1990), Zhen Ci Yan Jiu 15(3): 227-31.
Abstract: For the purpose of understanding regulatory effect of acupuncture and moxibustion, we have observed the changes of the obese indices and the lipid indices in 196 sample obesities before and after the acupuncture and moxibustion. The results showed that a good therapeutic effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on obesity was obtained. At the same time, there are the benign regulatory effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on the lipid metabolism and high density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Effect of acute myocardial infarction on cholesterol ratios
Wattanasuwan, N., I. A. Khan, et al. (2001), Chest 120(4): 1196-9.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: In patients with acute myocardial infarctions (MIs), cholesterol levels are no longer valid after 24 h from presentation because acute MI causes a rapid decline in serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of acute MI on the total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio and the LDL cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio. METHODS: The study consisted of 45 patients who were admitted to the hospital with acute MIs. Serum levels of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides were determined on day 1 post-MI and day 4 post-MI. The total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio and the LDL cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio were calculated. Serum lipid levels and cholesterol ratios were compared between day 1 post-MI and day 4 post-MI. RESULTS: From day 1 post-MI to day 4 post-MI, the mean (+/- SD) serum levels of total cholesterol (188.4 +/- 52.5 vs. 170.5 +/- 57.2 mg/dL, respectively; p = 0.01), LDL cholesterol (120.3 +/- 48.9 vs. 105.9 +/- 43.0 mg/dL, respectively; p = 0.009), and HDL cholesterol (45.0 +/- 18.5 vs 39.3 +/- 16.1 mg/dL, respectively; p < 0.001) decreased, but the mean serum level of triglycerides (119.2 +/- 81.2 vs 149.3 +/- 68.3 mg/dL, respectively; p = 0.006) increased. The cholesterol ratios, however, remained unchanged between day 1 post-MI and day 4 post-MI. The total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio was 4.59 +/- 1.84 on day 1 post-MI and 4.67 +/- 1.77 on day 4 post-MI (change not significant). The LDL cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio was 2.96 +/- 1.58 on day 1 post-MI and 2.99 +/- 1.44 on day 4 post-MI (change not significant). CONCLUSION: Acute MI does not affect the cholesterol ratios. Therefore, when the absolute levels of serum cholesterol are no longer valid (beyond 24 h after an MI), the cholesterol ratios still could be useful for cholesterol risk assessment in patients with acute MIs.

Effect of adding cholesterol to bull sperm membranes on sperm capacitation, the acrosome reaction, and fertility
Purdy, P. H. and J. K. Graham (2004), Biol Reprod 71(2): 522-7.
Abstract: When cholesterol is added to sperm membranes before cryopreservation, higher percentages of motile and viable cells are recovered after thawing. However, because one of the first steps in sperm capacitation is cholesterol efflux from the sperm plasma membrane, adding cholesterol to enhance cryosurvival may retard sperm capacitation. These studies evaluated the ability of sperm treated with cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrins (CLC) to capacitate, acrosome react, and fertilize oocytes. Control (non-CLC-treated) and CLC-treated sperm were treated with heparin, dilauroylphosphatidylcholine (PC12), or calcium ionophore A23187 (A23187) to capacitate and induce the acrosome reaction. Sperm capacitation, assessed by an increase in intracellular calcium level, and acrosome-reacted sperm were measured using flow cytometry. Fresh CLC-treated sperm cells underwent capacitation and/or the acrosome reaction at rates different from control samples, and the differences detected were dependent on the method used to induce sperm capacitation and the acrosome reaction. After cryopreservation, however, CLC-treated and control sperm underwent capacitation and the acrosome reaction at similar rates regardless of the method used to induce capacitation and the acrosome reaction. The primary concern for CLC-treated sperm, however, is whether this treatment would affect in vitro or in vivo fertility. Adding either control or CLC-treated cryopreserved sperm to bovine oocytes in vitro resulted in similar oocyte cleavage rates and blastocyst formation rates. In addition, when inseminated into heifers, pregnancy rates for control and CLC-treated sperm were also similar. Therefore, treating bull sperm with CLC permits greater numbers of sperm to survive cryopreservation while preserving the fertilizing potential of each individual sperm.

Effect of addition of brewer's yeast to soy protein and casein on plasma cholesterol levels of rabbits
De Abreu, J. and N. Millan (1994), Arch Latinoam Nutr 44(1): 18-22.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the addition of high levels of yeast to casein and soy diets could modify the well known effects of any of these proteins on plasma cholesterol. Rabbits, were fed either a diet containing soybean protein-brewer's yeast or casein-brewer's yeast (each protein source providing 50 percent of the dietary nitrogen content) and casein and soybean protein basal diets. Brewer's yeast was obtained from a local beer factory in its non-debittered form. The diets contained 20 percent protein, 9 percent coconut oil and 1 percent corn oil, with no added cholesterol. After a 22 day experimental period, rabbits fed casein developed hypercholesterolemia whereas those fed the soybean protein diet did not. The replacement of 50 percent of the soy nitrogen by brewer's yeast nitrogen, increased the total cholesterol plasma level, but significant differences were only observed between rabbits fed casein and casein-yeast and those fed soybean protein. No differences in high density lipoprotein cholesterol could be detected among the groups. However, the HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio was significantly reduced in response to soy substitution by brewer's yeast. The (low density lipoprotein + very low density lipoprotein)--cholesterol was increased in all groups with the exception of the animals fed purely soy protein. These data suggest a hypercholesterolemic activity of the dietary non-debittered brewer's yeast. Nevertheless, according to the amino acid composition, the factor responsible for the reported effects of dietary yeast was not associated with a high lysine to arginine ratio which could be due to extracellular components.

Effect of addition of exercise to therapeutic lifestyle changes diet in enabling women and men with coronary heart disease to reach Adult Treatment Panel III low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goal without lowering high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
Welty, F. K., E. Stuart, et al. (2002), Am J Cardiol 89(10): 1201-4.

Effect of administration of ursodeoxycholic acid at bedtime on cholesterol saturation of hepatic bile in Japanese patients with gallstone
Inoi, J., I. Shimizu, et al. (1998), J Med Invest 45(1-4): 115-22.
Abstract: The administration of a single, daily 600 mg dose of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) at bedtime and 3-200 mg doses per day at mealtime was conducted for 6 patients with gallstone and choledocholithiasis who were undergoing biliary drainage for the purpose of improving jaundice. Hepatic bile was collected from a drainage tube after a lapse of time in order to compare the bile acid compositions and cholesterol saturation index (SI) in bile for the 2 protocols. A significant increase in UDCA levels in hepatic bile was observed after both UDCA administration at bedtime and mealtime, but the effect of bedtime administration was significantly greater than that of mealtime administration. Whereas levels of cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) decreased for the case of bedtime administration, this was not detected for mealtime administration, although no significant differences among the mean interval values were observed. A significant in difference decreased SI was observed during UDCA bedtime administration, but not during mealtime administration, compared to the SI before administration. This suggests a decreased cholesterol excretion into the bile. Based on these findings and from the point of view of compliance, bedtime administration of UDCA appears to be an effective method.

Effect of age on cholesterol uptake and utilization by rat adrenals: I. Internalization of lipoprotein-derived cholesteryl esters
Azhar, S. and E. Reaven (1994), Mech Ageing Dev 77(1): 13-25.
Abstract: Previous studies from this laboratory have documented a progressive age-related decline in trophic hormone (or second messenger cAMP) stimulated corticosterone production in isolated adrenocortical cells. In the current study, we examined the possibility that the aging process exerts this effect by interfering with an early step in the delivery of lipoprotein-derived cholesteryl esters to the cell. As such, we monitored the ability of two different rat adrenocortical cell model systems (intact perfused adrenal glands and primary cultures of adrenocortical cells from 5- and 18- to 20-month-old rats) to internalize lipoprotein cholesteryl esters, and to convert the newly internalized cholesteryl esters to corticosterone production. The results indicate that lipoprotein (hHDL3 and rHDL) cholesteryl ester internalization (by both the endocytic and 'selective' pathways) is comparable in adrenocortical cells of the young and old rats. However, despite this, both the mass of corticosterone produced and the ratio of newly internalized (radiolabeled) cholesteryl ester incorporated into corticosterone is dramatically reduced in cells of the older animals. Thus, the lipoprotein uptake pathway appears to be intact in adrenals of older rats, but the intracellular processing of internalized cholesteryl ester is defective.

Effect of age on cholesterol uptake and utilization by rat adrenals: II. Lipoproteins from young and old rats
Reaven, E., L. Cao, et al. (1994), Mech Ageing Dev 77(1): 27-41.
Abstract: The current study examines whether age-related changes in high density lipoproteins (HDL) influences how these particles are handled by adrenal cells. It appears that HDL from 18- to 20-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats show a seven- to eightfold increase in content of apolipoprotein E compared to HDL from 2- to 5-month-old rats. The 'aged' particles show increased binding to susceptible hepatic membranes, and show a doubling in whole particle endocytosis by cortical cells of the perfused adrenal gland and by isolated adrenal cells from all rats regardless of age. Despite this twofold increase in particle uptake, the increase in total cholesteryl ester uptake by either the perfused adrenal or incubated adrenal cells is minor, amounting to less than 10% of the total cholesteryl ester internalized. This discrepancy occurs since the high apo E content of the 'aged' HDL only affects cholesteryl ester uptake by the 'endocytic' pathway; uptake via the 'selective' pathway (where cholesteryl ester is separated from the rest of the particle at the cell surface and directly internalized) is not altered.

Effect of aggregation of amphotericin B on lysophosphatidylcholine micelles as related to its complex formation with cholesterol or ergosterol
Kawabata, M., M. Onda, et al. (2001), J Biochem (Tokyo) 129(5): 725-32.
Abstract: The effect of aggregation of amphotericin B (AmB), as well as the complex formation of AmB with cholesterol or ergosterol, was investigated in micelles and vesicles. AmB in lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) micelles adopted a more favorable monomeric form than that in other drug formulations. At an LPC/AmB ratio of 200, AmB existed only in monomeric form. Such monomeric behavior is likely dependent upon the fluidity and size of the micelles. In LPC micelles composed of 90% monomeric AmB, AmB-ergosterol complex formation occurred with an increase in the sterol concentration, but the complex formation of AmB-cholesterol was slight. On the other hand, in LPC micelles composed of 40% monomeric AmB, the complex formation of AmB-cholesterol as well as AmB-ergosterol was extensive. These results suggest that the complex formation of AmB with both sterols is highly dependent upon the aggregated state of AmB. In addition, using monolayers, mixtures of AmB/LPC/ergosterol were became more stable with rising temperature, while the stability of mixtures of AmB/LPC/cholesterol remained unchanged, implying that complex formation of AmB with cholesterol is different from that of AmB with ergosterol.

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