cholesterin Chem.
(kəˈlɛstərɪn)
[mod. f. Gr. χολή bile + στερ-εός stiff, solid + -in.]
A tasteless, inodorous, fatty-looking substance (C26H44O), found in most animal liquids and solids, and in the fruit and seed of many plants. It crystallizes in white transparent scales, and in this form is the chief constituent of gall-stones.
| 1827 Faraday Chem. Manip. x. 253 Alcohol is applicable to the crystallization of potash, cholesterine, etc. 1835–6 Todd Cycl. Anat. I. 376/1 Cholesterine separates in white pearly scales. 1845 Budd Dis. Liver 20. 1872 Huxley Phys. v. 123 A remarkable crystalline substance, very fatty-looking, but not really of a fatty nature, called cholesterin. 1881 Syd. Soc. Lex., Cholesterin disease, a term applied to certain forms of amyloid or lardaceous degeneration. |
Hence cholesteˈræmia (see quot.). choleˈsteric a., as in cholesteric (also choˌlesteˈrinic) cholesteric acid (C8H10O5), produced by the action of nitric acid on cholesterin, and forming salts called choˈlesterates. choˈlesteride (see quot.). choleˈsterilin, a hydrocarbon formed by the addition of sulphuric acid to cholesterin. choˈlesterone, a hydrocarbon formed by the addition of phosphoric acid to cholesterin. choˈlesteryl, the radical of cholesteric acid; hence choˈlesterylaˌmine, etc.
| 1866 A. Flint Princ. Med. (1880) 81 To a morbid increase of cholesterin in the blood he applied the name cholesteræmia. 1879 Watts Dict. Chem. I. 925 The cholesterates of the heavy metals are insoluble. 1840 Henry Elem. Chem. II. xiii. 444 Cholesteric acid separates on cooling in the form of a yellow substance. 1847–9 Todd Cycl. Anat. IV. 98/1 Several small tumours..composed in great part of cholesteric scales. 1878 Kingzett Anim. Chem. 97 Compounds termed cholesterides..resembling saccharides in their general nature. Ibid. 98 Three hydrocarbons of the formula H42, named cholesterilin. 1880 J. W. Legg Bile 31 The olefiant gas of the series is cholesterilin. 1878 Kingzett Anim. Chem. 98 Cholesteryl chloride. |