MODULATION OF BILAYER FLUIDITY BY LIPID-PEROXIDATION OF HUMAN PLACENTAL SYNCYTIOTROPHOBLAST MEMBRANES DURING EMBRYOGENESIS

Placental syncytiotrophoblast while regulating the passage of nutrient s from maternal blood to the fetal circulation exposes itself to the r isk of oxidative attack by the oxygen free radicals. Extent of lipid p eroxidation (LPO) investigated in placental brush border membrane (BBM ) and basal membrane (BM) revealed a decreasing trend with gestational progress. Steady-state fluorescence anisotropy measurement of 1,6-dip henyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH)-labeled malondialdehyde treated placental membrane vesicles suggested modulation of BBM and BM fluidity by lipi d peroxidation in all gestational ages. alpha-tocopherol content in bo th the placental membranes which increased as gestation progressed has been proposed to play a significant role in decreasing LPO of placent al membranes during intrauterine development.