title: Lecithin content estimate of human alveolar lining layer: comparison with mouse, rat and rabbit.
abstract: Saturated as well as total lecithins recovered by lung lavage are linearly correlated with the species body weight and with their respiratory rate. The value of the ratio:amount of saturated lecithins recovered by lung lavage to theoretical minimum amount needed to form a monomolecular film over the alveolar surface at functional residual capacity decreases linearly according to the respiratory rate of the species examined. In man this ratio is lower than 1 (0.45 +/- 0.11) and suggests the possible existence of a discontinuous mono molecular film of lipidic surfactant.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000032:analysis*; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000032:analysis*; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D010713:Phosphatidylcholines