Formation of disaturated lecithin through the lysolecithin pathway in the lung of the developing rabbit.
The formation of disaturated lecithin in slices of developing rabbit lung was studied using 14C-CDP-choline, 3H-S-adenosylmethionine, and doubly labeled lecithin, lysolecithin and phosphatidylethanolamine as precursors. The labeling patterns suggest that some of the unsaturated lecithin becomes deacylated and subsequently reacylated to form disaturated surface-active lecithin. The rate of this pathway (lysolecithin 'loop') increases as a function of gestation and may contribute to the functional maturation of the lung.
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D005333:Fetus; D005865:Gestational Age; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines / Q000378:metabolism*; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011817:Rabbits
D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines