[The lipids of the lungs in experimental aspiration pneumonitis (author's transl)]

In the lungs of LEWE-Mini-Pigs with aspiration pneumonitis, which was produced by intratracheal application of 0,2 n hydrochloric acid, the following parameters were determined post-mortally: Total phospholipid-, water- and cholesterol content and sphingomyelin-, lecithin-, phosphatidylethanolamine- and phosphatidylserine concentration. Furthermore thin-layer- and gelchromatographic investigations were performed. The water- and the cholesterol content are increased (about 4 respectively 40 percent). The total phospholipid- and the lecithin content are decreased (about 10 respectively 30 percent). The lysolecithin concentration is very low in the lungs. By therapy with bromhexine metabolite VII the water- and cholesterol content are reduced, the total phospholipid- and lecithin content are increased in comparison to the lungs without therapy. In this case the total phospholipid- and lecithin content are raised in the liver simultaneously. The biochemical changes are caused probably by a disorder of the surfactant system of the lung (disturbance of phospholipid-protein-interaction) and impairment of the alveolar epithelial cells typ II (decreased lecithin biosynthesis) in consequence of the action of the hydrochloric acid.