Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Surfactant secretion in a newborn rabbit lung slice model.

P A Marino, S A Rooney

    Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
    |December 5, 1980
    PubMed
    Summary

    This study introduces a new laboratory method using thin lung slices from newborn rabbits to observe how lung cells release surfactant, a vital substance for breathing. By tracking labeled lipids, researchers found that these slices mimic natural lung function after an initial stabilization period. The team demonstrated that specific chemical signals and structural cell components regulate this release process. These findings help clarify the biological mechanisms that allow newborns to maintain healthy lung function.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    Circulation of multiple subtypes of bovine viral diarrhoea virus type 1 with no evidence for HoBi-like pestivirus in cattle herds of southern Italy.

    Infection, genetics and evolution : journal of molecular epidemiology and evolutionary genetics in infectious diseases·2017
    Same author

    Evidence for Circulation of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus Type 2c in Ruminants in Southern Italy.

    Transboundary and emerging diseases·2016
    Same author

    HoBi-Like Pestivirus and Its Impact on Cattle Productivity.

    Transboundary and emerging diseases·2016
    Same author

    Glucocorticoids regulate expression of the fatty acid synthase gene in fetal rat type II cells.

    Biochimica et biophysica acta·2001
    Same author

    Regulation of SP-B and SP-C secretion in rat type II cells in primary culture.

    American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology·2001
    Same author

    Transcriptional regulation of the lung fatty acid synthase gene by glucocorticoid, thyroid hormone and transforming growth factor-beta 1.

    Biochimica et biophysica acta·2001

    Area of Science:

    • Pulmonary surfactant secretion research within neonatal physiology
    • Respiratory medicine and cellular biology

    Background:

    No prior work had resolved the precise cellular mechanisms governing pulmonary surfactant release in neonatal models. Prior research has shown that surfactant is vital for newborn respiration, yet the regulatory pathways remain poorly understood. This gap motivated the development of a controlled experimental system to observe lipid secretion directly. Previous investigations often relied on whole-lung models that lacked the precision required for isolating specific signaling events. That uncertainty drove the need for a slice-based approach to monitor lipid dynamics in real time. Scientists previously struggled to distinguish between general tissue leakage and active surfactant secretion. This study addresses that limitation by establishing a stable, viable lung slice preparation. No other system has successfully combined these specific physiological conditions to study neonatal lung lipid output.

    Purpose Of The Study:

    The study aims to characterize a novel slice model for investigating pulmonary surfactant secretion in newborn rabbits. This research addresses the need for a reliable system to monitor lipid release dynamics in neonatal lung tissue. The authors seek to determine if lung slices can accurately replicate the composition of natural lung lavage. They also intend to identify the signaling molecules that influence the rate of surfactant export. By testing various chemical inhibitors, the team hopes to clarify the role of prostaglandins in this process. The researchers also investigate the necessity of calcium ions for maintaining normal secretion levels. Furthermore, the project explores how structural cell components like microtubules and microfilaments contribute to lipid transport. This investigation provides a foundation for future studies on neonatal respiratory health and surfactant regulation.

    Keywords:
    lipid metabolismrespiratory physiologyphosphatidylcholine secretionneonatal lung function

    Frequently Asked Questions

    The researchers propose that prostaglandin E2 enhances secretion by 20%, whereas the calcium ionophore A23187 increases output by 40% in the presence of calcium. In contrast, inhibitors like indomethacin reduce release by 52%, demonstrating a strong regulatory influence from these signaling molecules.

    The authors utilized [Me-3H]choline to label lipids within the lung tissue. This radioactive tracer allows for the precise quantification of phosphatidylcholine release from the slices into the incubation medium over time.

    The team identifies that intact microtubular and microfilament systems are necessary for secretion. They demonstrate this by showing that colchicine and cytochalasin B, which disrupt these structures, inhibit lipid release by 36% and 32%, respectively.

    The researchers measure lactate dehydrogenase release to assess tissue viability. They report that less than 5% of this enzyme is released into the medium, indicating that the slices remain intact and healthy throughout the experiment.

    Related Experiment Videos

    Main Methods:

    Review Approach framing involves the use of newborn rabbit lung slices prepared at 0.5 mm thickness. The investigators delivered full-term subjects via cesarean section before administering an intraperitoneal injection of radiolabeled choline. Four hours post-injection, the team harvested and perfused the lungs to eliminate residual blood. They incubated these tissue sections in a specialized buffer maintained at 37 degrees Celsius. The protocol required three sequential medium changes to stabilize the lipid release profile. Researchers quantified the output of phosphatidylcholine by measuring the radioactive tracer over time. They tested various pharmacological agents to determine their effects on the secretion rate. This systematic design allowed for the isolation of specific signaling pathways without disrupting the overall tissue architecture.

    Main Results:

    Key Findings From the Literature indicate that phosphatidylcholine constitutes over 70% of the total lipids released after the stabilization phase. The researchers observed that 52% of this phosphatidylcholine exists in a disaturated form. The study reports that prostaglandin E2 stimulates the release rate by 20%. Conversely, the synthesis inhibitors indomethacin and flufenamic acid decrease the release by 52% and 37%, respectively. The calcium ionophore A23187 increases lipid secretion by 40% when calcium is present. Disruption of the microtubular system with colchicine results in a 36% reduction in output. Similarly, cytochalasin B treatment inhibits the release by 32% by affecting microfilaments. These results demonstrate that the secretion process is both linear and temperature-dependent.

    Conclusions:

    The researchers propose that prostaglandins serve as active regulators of surfactant secretion in the newborn lung. Synthesis and Implications framing suggests that calcium signaling pathways are also involved in this physiological process. The authors note that the observed inhibition by specific agents indicates a requirement for intact microtubular networks. Furthermore, the data imply that microfilament systems are necessary for the normal export of these lipids. These findings provide a framework for understanding how cellular structures support respiratory function. The study confirms that the slice model effectively mimics natural lung lavage composition after stabilization. The authors emphasize that these regulatory mechanisms are temperature-dependent and linear over time. This work clarifies the interplay between chemical signaling and structural integrity in neonatal surfactant release.

    The study observes that initial lipid release resembles lung tissue, but after three medium changes, the composition shifts to match lung lavage. Specifically, phosphatidylcholine accounts for over 70% of the total, with 52% being disaturated.

    The authors conclude that prostaglandins and calcium are involved in surfactant release. They contrast this with the inhibitory effects of prostaglandin synthesis blockers, such as flufenamic acid, which reduces release by 37%.