Characteristics of surfactant from SP-A-deficient mice

Experiments were performed to illustrate and compare the biophysical and functional properties of pulmonary surfactants from surfactant protein (SP) A deficient (-/-) mice to SP-A (+/+) mice. Differences in adsorption rate, structure, density and sensitivity to plasma protein inhibition were demonstrated by SP-A deficient mice in comparison to normo-SP-A mice. The findings suggested the sensitivity of SP-A(-/-) to inactivation following lung injury.