Study of lung surfactant activity in guinea pigs after vagotomy.

Vagotomy in guinea-pigs reduces the pulmonary surfactant activity. Unilateral vagotomy brings about a similar reduction in the lung on the same side. The findings indicate that surfactant reduction may be an important causative factor in the initiation of pulmonary edema in vagotomised guinea-pigs. It is suggested that surfactant synthesis or release may be affected by alterations in the pulmonary blood flow or removal of the effect of neuro-secretory fibres, following vagotomy.