[Changes in the surface-active substance in the lungs of rabbits during endotracheal fluothane anesthesia]

Endotracheal phthorothan anesthesia without any surgical intervention in rabbits for 3.5 hours diminished the surface active properties of the surfactant by increasing the surface tension of the lung washings measured on the Wilhelmy scales. A study of phospholipid fractions in the lung washings by means of the thin-layer chromatography on silicagel showed a decrease of one of the major structures of the surfactant lipoprotein, phosphatidylcholine, with a simultaneous increase of the lysophosphatidylcholine. Determination of the free fatty acid content in the lung washings after the action of phthorothan anesthesia showed their significant increase as compared with control. A possible mechanism of the damaging effect of phthorothan anesthesia on the lung surfactant is discussed.