title: Phosphatidylcholine composition of pulmonary surfactant from terrestrial and marine diving mammals.
abstract: Marine mammals are repeatedly exposed to elevated extra-thoracic pressure and alveolar collapse during diving and readily experience alveolar expansion upon inhalation - a unique capability as compared to terrestrial mammals. How marine mammal lungs overcome the challenges of frequent alveolar collapse and recruitment remains unknown. Recent studies indicate that pinniped lung surfactant has more anti-adhesive components compared to terrestrial mammals, which would aid in alveolar opening. However, pulmonary surfactant composition has not yet been investigated in odontocetes, whose physiology and diving behavior differ from pinnipeds. The aim of this study was to investigate the phosphatidylcholine (PC) composition of lung surfactants from various marine mammals and compare these to a terrestrial mammal. We found an increase in anti-adhesive PC species in harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) and California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) compared to dog (Canus lupus familiaris), as well as an increase in the fluidizing PCs 16:0/14:0 and 16:0/16:1 in pinnipeds compared to odontocetes. The harbor porpoise (a representative of the odontocetes) did not have higher levels of fluidizing PCs compared to dog. Our preliminary results support previous findings that pinnipeds may have adapted unique surfactant compositions that allow them to dive at high pressures for extended periods without adverse effects. Future studies will need to investigate the differences in other surfactant components to fully assess the surfactant composition in odontocetes.
authors: Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, USA. Electronic address: d.gutierrez@vanderbilt.edu.
authors: Danielle B
authors: DB
authors: Gutierrez
authors: Comparative Physiology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, USA. Electronic address: Andreas.Fahlman@tamucc.edu.
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Fahlman
authors: Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, USA. Electronic address: Manuela.Gardner@tamucc.edu.
authors: Manuela
authors: M
authors: Gardner
authors: Comparative Physiology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, USA. Electronic address: Danielle.Kleinhenz@tamucc.edu.
authors: Danielle
authors: D
authors: Kleinhenz
authors: Department of Zoology, The University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada. Electronic address: piscitellim@gmail.com.
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Piscitelli
authors: Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Animal Health Center, 1767 Angus Campbell Road, Abbotsford, BC V3G 2M3, Canada; Fisheries Centre, The University of British Columbia, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada. Electronic address: Stephen.Raverty@gov.bc.ca.
authors: Stephen
authors: S
authors: Raverty
authors: Vancouver Aquarium, 845 Avison Way, Vancouver, BC V6G 3E2, Canada. Electronic address: Martin.Haulena@vanaqua.org.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Haulena
authors: Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, USA. Electronic address: Paul.Zimba@tamucc.edu.
authors: Paul V
authors: PV
authors: Zimba
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs / Q000378:metabolism*; D004289:Dolphins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D050741:Phocoena / Q000378:metabolism*; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D046070:Sea Lions / Q000378:metabolism*; D046048:Seals, Earless / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants