[Surfactant lipids of bovine lungs].

Abstract

Lung surfactant from bronchoalveolar lavage and post-lavaged lung tissue of calf and adult cows was isolated. In both species of the surfactant, the main fractions are: phospholipids and free fatty acids. Phosphatidylcholine was the main phospholipid fraction. Phosphatidylglycerol level is about 4% of total phospholipids. In both phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol fractions, palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids are the main fatty acids. There are no differences between bronchoalveolar lavage and post-lavaged lung tissue surfactants and between calf and adult cow surfactants in the aspect of their lipid composition.