SURFACTANTS OF THE GASTROINTESTINAL-TRACT

Epithelia of the gastrointestinal tract both synthesize and secrete su rfactant-like materials. Like the pulmonary surfactant, these material s contain not only phospholipids, but also surfactant apoproteins, reg arded until recently as specific products of the bronchoalveolar epith elium. Presented here are the various roles, most of them still specul ative, of these phospholipids-containing products in the gastro-intest inal tract.