Postnatal changes in lung phospholipids and alveolar macrophages in term newborn monkeys

In order to better understand the postnatal sequence of surfactant secretion and establishment of the alveolar macrophage (AM) population in newborn primates, healthy Macaca nemestrina monkeys were sacrificed during fetal life at term gestation (n = 5), or at 2 days (n = 5) or 3-4 weeks (n = 5) after term vaginal delivery. Excised lung tissue and left lung lavage were analyzed for phospholipid (PL) content, surface active material (SAM) extract, PL components, surface activity, pressure-volume characteristics, and AM number. Compared to term fetal animals, 2 day old term newborn monkeys were found to have a several-fold increase in lavage PL and SAM, and this was associated with greater maximal lung volume and drier lungs, but not improved deflation stability. During the subsequent 3-4 weeks of life, a 42% reduction in lung tissue stores of PL and SAM, and an 87% reduction in lavage PL and SAM were noted. Despite these major changes in quantity, there were relatively minor changes in the composition of the PL synthesized and released. The reduced quantity of SAM in the 3-4 week old animals led to a small decline in deflation stability. The several-fold increase in lavage PL and SAM during the first 2 days of life was accompanied by a 33-fold increase in AM; there was an additional 4-fold increase in AM number by 3-4 weeks of age. The abundance of lavage surfactant at 2 days of age may play a role in the influx of AM.