title: Quantitative determination of lecithin and sphingomyelin in amniotic fluid.
abstract: A quantitative method for lecithin and sphingomyelin is presented. In this method, which may be calibrated with a primary standard phosphate salt or pure phospholipids, 2 mL of amniotic fluid is extracted, and the solvent passed through a column of hydroxyapatite to remove all phospholipids except lecithin and sphingomyelin. After evaporation, the residue is treated with methanolic sodium hydroxide, which hydrolyzes lecithin to inorganic phosphate and a methyl ester. The unreacted sphingomyelin is removed by extraction, and the solvent evaporated. Both fractions are digested and assayed for phosphate by reduced phosphomolybdate. The total time required is 2 h. Analytical recoveries were 91-97%, and excellent agreement was found for controls. Amniotic fluid specimens were assayed to illustrate application of the proposed method. If this method is used for obtaining a lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio, a new ranges must be established, as this method is not equivalent to thin-layer chromatographic ones.
mesh_terms: D000649:Amniocentesis; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000032:analysis*; D002585:Cesarean Section; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D017886:Durapatite; D005260:Female; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity; D006801:Humans; D006882:Hydroxyapatites; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000032:analysis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013109:Sphingomyelins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D006882:Hydroxyapatites; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D013109:Sphingomyelins; D017886:Durapatite