Single plate separation of lung phospholipids including disaturated phosphatidylcholine.

We have developed an improved thin-layer chromatographic method for separation of lung phospholipids. Individual phospholipids are completely separated in the first dimension. All phospholipids, except phosphatidylcholine, are then removed. The phosphatidylcholine-containing area is reacted with osmium tetroxide and saturated phosphatidylcholine species are separated from the unsaturated oxidation products by subsequent chromatography in the second dimension. This method should prove useful in studies on lung surfactant metabolism and secretion, in prediction of fetal lung maturity by analysis of amniotic fluid phospholipids, and in studies on surfactant obtained by bronchoscopy in adult lung diseases.