Effects of a vertebrate hypocholesterolemic agent on sterol metabolism and development of Bombyx mori.

phagous and certain omnivorous species obtain their essential C27 sterols through dealkylation of dietary C28 and C29 phytosterols. The mechanism of this dealkylation reaction in insects is an important but little understood biochemical problem. In the silkworm Bombyx mori, ƒÀ-sitosterol, which is the principal sterol in its diet, Morus (mulberry) leaves, is converted into cholesterol,1) but nothing is known of the intermediate reactions. In order to elucidate the pathways of phytosterol metabolism in insects, certain hypocholesterolemic agents which show inhibitive effects on sterol metabolism in insects and vertebrates have been previously used to bring about accumulation of metabolic intermediates.2) In the