[Distribution of platelet activating factor in the pulmonary tissues of normal rats]

Platelet activating factor (PAF) is a biologically active phospholipid with a broad range of cellular targets and respective responses. Because lung homogenates obtained from normal rats contain measurable levels of PAF, it may be involved in both pathological and physiological processes of lung. In this study, we have searched for the distribution of PAF in the rat lungs by immunohistochemistry. We demonstrated that PAF immunoreactivity is present on pulmonary arterial and alveolar walls. The results showed that PAF are located in pulmonary arterial and alveolar wall under normal condition, and that PAF may play a role in maintaining pulmonary physiological process.