Acetate Incorporation into Lipids of Canine Lung Cells 1

Abstract

Summary

Cells principally derived from the alveolar portion of the lungs of beagle dogs were obtained by pulmonary lavage and incubated with 1-₁₄C-acetate. Labeled lipids were isolated and quantitated by zonal profile thin-layer chromatographic scanning and liquid scintillation counting. The cells actively incorporated the acetate into both neutral lipids and phospholipids. Phosphatidyl choline was the predominantly labeled phosphatide and cholesterol was the predominantly labeled neutral lipid. The results show that the alveolar lining cells may be considered as a site of the synthesis of the lipid components of pulmonary surfactant.