Studies on molecular species of fetal lung lecithins by gas-liquid chromatography mass spectrometry

The molecular species of lung lecithins obtained from rabbit and rat fetuses at different days of gestation and from newborns were analysed as TMS derivatives of the corresponding diglycerides in a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer system by selected ion retrieval. In the latter part of gestation, the order of the main molecular species of lung lecithins, PCn, was PC32 greater than PC34 greater than PC30, while at an earlier stage it was PC34 greater than PC32 greater than PC30. During gestation the change of PC32:0, dipalmitoyllecithin, was remarkable. Ether lecithins are also discussed.