S. Stipek et al., LIPID-PEROXIDATION AND SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE ACTIVITY IN UMBILICAL ANDMATERNAL BLOOD, Biochemistry and molecular biology international, 35(4), 1995, pp. 705-711
Oxygenation of both mother and child tissues oscillate frequently duri
ng labour. We tested the lipid peroxidation caused by reactive oxygen
species which are produced in consequence of tissue reoxygenation and
the inactivation of these species by the maternal. and newborn superox
ide dismutase. Total malondialdehyde in concentrations (x +/- SE) of 1
.04 +/- 0.17, 1.57 +/- 0.22, 1.33 +/- 0.14 and 1.36 +/- 0.21 mu mol/L
was found in maternal plasma and red blood cells and newborn plasma an
d red blood cells, respectively, after uncomplicated deliveries and 4.
93 +/- 1.34, 7.12 +/- 1.37, 4.77 +/- 1.29 and 7.37 +/- 1.51 mu mol/L,
respectively, after deliveries with clinical signs of foetal. hypoxia.
In newborns, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity reached only 8
2% of the maternal level (p<0.05). The results indicate that the mater
nal and foetal antioxidant defence systems can be overloaded during de
liveries with abnormal oxygenation, where increased lipid peroxidation
occurred.