Mass spectrometric evidence for the presence of platelet‐activating factor (1‐0‐alkyl‐2‐acetyl‐<i>sn</i>‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine) in human amniotic fluid during labor

Abstract

Evidence is presented for the existence of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in human amniotic fluid during labor by gas-liquid chromatographic (GLC) and mass-spectrometric (MS) analysis. The unique ether-linked phospholipid was identified only in an amniotic fluid obtained from women during labor, and its alkyl side chain was composed exclusively of octadecyl residue.