Mass spectrometric evidence for the presence of platelet-activating factor (1-0-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) in human amniotic fluid during labor.

Evidence is presented for the existence of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in human amniotic fluid during labor by gas-liquid chromatographic (GLC) and mass-spectrometric (MS) analysis. The unique ether-linked phospholipid was identified only in an amniotic fluid obtained from women during labor, and its alkyl side chain was composed exclusively of octadecyl residue.