In the present study, the bioconversion of the dietary brassicasterol in Artemia salina was investigated. After administration of the Cyclotella nana containing brassicasterol-¹⁴C to Artemia, the sterols were isolated from the tissues of Artemia. The isolated sterol was found to contain only cholesterol and to reveal relatively high radioactivity. In column chromatography on a silver nitrate-impregnated silicic acid as acetate, cholesterol-¹⁴C gave one radioactive peak corresponding to cholesteryl acetate. Moreover, cholesteryl acetate-¹⁴C showed a constant specific activity (dpm/mg) during repeated crystallizations.
On the basis of these results, it was concluded that Artemia is capable of converting the dietary brassicasterol to cholesterol.