Abstract
We have previously shown that fetuses of diabetic rabbit does have diminished pulmonary surfactant function. To determine whether increased cholesterol may inhibit surfactant function in vitro, crystalline cholesterol in amounts 4-17 times higher than found naturally was added to lung lavage fluid of 30 day gestation fetal rabbits. Surfactant function was determined on a modified Wilhelmy surface balance. The minimum surface tension of lung lavage containing added cholesterol was 17.5 mN/m, compared to 7 mN/m for untreated samples (p <.001). None of six samples with added cholesterol reached a minimum surface tension of less than 12 mN/m, whereas all untreated samples reached this value. To determine whether naturally occurring cholesterol content of diabetic fetal lung lavage is increased above that of normal fetuses, lavage cholesterol from 27.5 day gestation rabbit fetuses was measured by gas chromatography. Lavage cholesterol content was found to be elevated in diabetic fetuses 50-100% above controls. We conclude that exogenous cholesterol can inhibit surfactant function in vitro, and may be responsible for the diminished surfactant function seen in vivo in offspring of diabetic pregnancies.
(Supported in part by a grant from the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation)
Log in or create a free account to read this content
Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com
or
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Werthamner, J., Sosenko, I., Cunningham, M. et al. 1739 SURFACTANT CHOLESTEROL: A POSSIBLE INHIBITOR OF SURFACE ACTIVITY. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 733 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01758
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01758
