Periodic fluctuations in the pulmonary surfactant system in Gould's wattled bat (Chalinolobus gouldii)

Citation
Jr. Codd et al., Periodic fluctuations in the pulmonary surfactant system in Gould's wattled bat (Chalinolobus gouldii), PHYSIOL B Z, 73(5), 2000, pp. 605-612
Citations number
40
Categorie Soggetti
Animal Sciences",Physiology
Journal title
PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ZOOLOGY
ISSN journal
15222152 → ACNP
Volume
73
Issue
5
Year of publication
2000
Pages
605 - 612
Database
ISI
SICI code
1522-2152(200009/10)73:5<605:PFITPS>2.0.ZU;2-T
Abstract
Pulmonary surfactant is a mixture of phospholipids, neutral lipids, and pro teins that controls the surface tension of the fluid lining the lung. Surfa ctant amounts and composition are influenced by such physiological paramete rs as metabolic rate, activity, body temperature, and ventilation. Microchi ropteran bats experience fluctuations in these parameters throughout their natural daily cycle of activity and torpor. The activity cycle of the micro chiropteran bat Chalinolobus gouldii was studied over a 24-h period. Bats w ere maintained in a room at constant ambient temperature (24 degreesC) on a n 8L:16D cycle. Diurnal changes in the amount and composition of surfactant were measured at 4-h intervals throughout a 24-h period. The C. gouldii we re most active at 2 A.M. and were torpid at 2 P.M.. Alveolar surfactant inc reased 1.5-fold immediately after arousal. The proportion of disaturated ph ospholipid remained constant, while surfactant cholesterol levels increased 1.5-fold during torpor. Alveolar cholesterol in C.gouldii was six times lo wer than in other mammals. Cholesterol appears to function in maintaining s urfactant fluidity during torpor in this species of bat.