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Males rats were fed diets containing wheat bran, oat bran, barley or malted barley without or with 10 g/kg cholesterol + 1 g/kg cholic acid (referred to as 'cholesterol'). Plasma total, HDL, and VLDL + LDL cholesterol concentrations were higher overall in rats fed cholesterol. There was a significant interaction between dietary cholesterol and cereal type. Higher concentrations of total and VLDL + LDL cholesterol were found in rats fed cholesterol with wheat bran than in those fed oat bran, barley or malted barley. HDL cholesterol concentrations were higher overall in rats fed wheat bran than in those fed oat bran or barley but not malted barley. Liver cholesterol pools were higher overall in rats fed cholesterol. In all animals fed oat bran, liver cholesterol was lower than in rats fed barley or malted barley. Hepatic HDL receptor activity was lower overall in rats fed cholesterol. There was no independent effect of cereal type on HDL receptor activity, but there was a significant interaction with dietary cholesterol. Activity tended to be higher in rats fed malted barley with cholesterol than in rats fed malted barley without cholesterol. LDL receptor activity was not affected by cereal type but was significantly lower overall in rats fed cholesterol. INDEXING KEY WORDS: * lipoprotein receptors * plasma lipids * rats * cereal fiber * cholesterol