Abstract
We measured plasma sterol concentrations in 7 homozygotes with the Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome, 5 heterozygotes and rats treated with BM 15.766, the competitive inhibitor of 7-dehydrocholesterol 7-reductase. Low cholesterol associated with markedly elevated 7-dehydrocholesterol concentrations were detected in the plasma of all homozygotes and inhibitor-treated rats. Heterozygotes were clinically normal and, like control subjects, showed only trace amounts of 7-dehydrocholesterol in plasma. We conclude that the Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome is due to an inherited defect in 7 dehydrocholesterol 7-reductase which causes the accumulation of 7-dehydrocholesterol and a deficiency of cholesterol in the plasma, a biochemical abnormality that can be reproduced in rats treated with BM 15.766.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Adolescent
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Adult
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Animals
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Anticholesteremic Agents / pharmacology
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Child
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Child, Preschool
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Cholesterol / biosynthesis*
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Cholesterol / blood
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Dehydrocholesterols / blood
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Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
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Heterozygote
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Homozygote
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Humans
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Infant
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Middle Aged
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Oxidoreductases / antagonists & inhibitors
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Oxidoreductases / deficiency
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Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors*
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Piperazines / pharmacology
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome / enzymology
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Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome / genetics
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Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome / metabolism*
Substances
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Anticholesteremic Agents
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Dehydrocholesterols
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Enzyme Inhibitors
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Piperazines
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BM 15766
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Cholesterol
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7-dehydrocholesterol
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Oxidoreductases
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Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors
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7-dehydrocholesterol reductase