Experimental pancreatitis in the rat. Changes in pulmonary phospholipids during sodium taurocholate-induced acute pancreatitis.

Acute haemorrhagic pancreatitis was induced in rats by injecting aqueous solution of sodium taurocholate into the common biliopancreatic duct. Lecithin and lysolecithin were separated from pulmonary homogenate by thin layer chromatography and quantified by phosphorus determination. The ratio of lysolecithin to lecithin increased after the sodium taurocholate injection as well as after i.v. administration of porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2. It was concluded that phospholipase A2, released from pancreatic acinar cells into blood, may convert pulmonary lecithin into lysolecithin during acute pancreatitis. Destruction of pulmonary surfactant may contribute to the development of the adult respiratory distress syndrome as seen in patients suffering from severe acute pancreatitis.