Lipid synthesis by rabbit lung tissue in vitro

Abstract

Mammalian lung tissue can synthesize various lipids in vitro. This can be demonstrated by incubating minced tissue or perfusing the intact organ with C¹⁴-labeled acetate as a precursor. The newly formed lipids include fatty acids, neutral and phospholipids. Of the phospholipids, lecithin has the highest rate of acetate incorporation. This is of interest because lecithin is known to be a component of the surface tension-lowering lipid-protein complex which lines the alveoli.