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The molecular formula of cholesterol is C27 H45 OH. It is monounsaturated tetracyclic alcohol. The structure of cholesterol, as proposed by Windaus, has the following characteristic features:

Cholesterol is widely distributed in all the cells of the body. It occurs in large quantities in brain and nerve tissues. It is found in adrenal glands, glandular tissues, plasma, and egg yolk. It may be noted that cholesterol occurs in animal fats and not in plant fats.

Cholesterol means solid bile alcohol. It derives its name from the Greek word cholesterine (chole – bile, sterine – solid).

STEROLS Sterols means solid alcohol. They are widely distributed in animal and plant tissues. They include cholesterol, 7-dehydrocholesterol, ergosterol, calciferol, and coprosterol. Among the sterols, cholesterol forms an important physiological compound.

Male: C19 – androgen, testosterone, androsterone Female: C18 – estradiol, estriol, estrone, progesterone.

Mineralocorticoids C21– aldosterone, deoxycorticosterone, glucocorticoids – cortisone, cortisol, corticosterone

Bile Acids Cholic acid Chenodeoxy cholic acid Lithocholic acid Deoxy cholic acid

C18 STEROIDS Mammalian ovary contains ovarian folicles and corpus luteal follicles which produce estrogen, estriol, estradiol and corpus luteum produce progesterone which is described in Table 4.3.   Table 4.3 Steriod Female Sex Hormones