Glycochenodeoxycholate induces rat alveolar epithelial type II cell death and inhibits surfactant secretion in vitro

► Glycochenodeoxycholate (GCDC) induced alveolar epithelial (AECII) death in vitro. ► Oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage were detected in GCDC-treated AECII. ► Reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers and caspase inhibitors rescued cell death. ► Rat AECII surfactant secretion was inhibited by glycochenodeoxycholate.