Arylsulfonate esters as hypocholesteremic agents: III. Mechanism of action studies.

The mechanism responsible for the hypocholestermic action of arylsulfonate esters of long chain fatty alcohols has been studied with rats fed either normocholesteremic or hypercholesteremic (1% cholesterol plus 0.5% glycoholate) diets. Linoleyl tosylate is more effective in lowering plasma and liver cholesterol levels of rats on the hypercholesteremic diet than several other hypocholesteremic agents tested. Linoleyl tosylate does not redistribute cholesterol to extrahepatic tissues nor inhibit hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis. Linoleyl tosylate is not effective in counteracting Triton-induced hypercholesteremia nor in lowering plasma cholesterol levels of the suckling rat. Linoleyl tosylate increases the fecal elimination of dietary [4(-14)C] cholesterol and prevents its accumulation in blood and liver. Oleyl p-(n-decyl) benzene sulfonate also prevents the apparent absorption of [26(-14)C] cholesterol from the gastrointestinal tract. Linoleyl tosylate increases the fecal excretion of neutral sterols but not of bile acids. The results indicate that the arylsulfonate esters of long chain fatty alcohols lower body cholesterol levels by inhibiting cholesterol absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. Exactly how absorption is inhibited is not clear, but linoleyl tosylate was found to stimulate the activity of cholesteryl esterase prepared from the intestinal mucosa.