Effect of oxygen breathing at atmospheric pressure on pulmonary surfactant

Abstract

To evaluate the effects of oxygen breathing at atmospheric pressure on pulmonary surfactant, cats, rabbits, and rats were continuously kept in 98% oxygen until death occurred. Pulmonary surfactant was extracted by mincing of the lung and by foam fractionation of the lung. Surface tension of the extracts was measured on a Wilhelmy balance. Lung extracts prepared by both methods from the cats and rabbits kept in oxygen had greater surface tension than lung extracts from control animals. Surface tension of extracts prepared by foam fractionation of lungs of rats kept in oxygen did not differ from that of extracts of lungs of control rats, whereas surface tension of extracts prepared by mincing lungs of rats kept in oxygen had minimum surface tension greater than that of lung extracts of control rats. This species difference in the effects of oxygen breathing on pulmonary surfactant may reflect a difference in the pathogenesis of oxygen intoxication. oxygen intoxication; surface tension Submitted on October 19, 1964