Detection of Desmosterol in the Internal Lipids of Wool Fibers

Abstract
The sterol fraction of the internal lipids of wool has been separated by HPLC into two major components, cholesterol and its precursor, desmosterol (cholesta-5,24-dien- 3β-ol). The total of extractable sterols varied significantly between the six samples examined, representing wool from different breeds of sheep and from different climatic zones. However, the ratio of desmosterol to cholesterol remained relatively constant.