Erythrocyte metabolism in foetal sheep

This study was undertaken with a view to examine certain aspects of erythro cyte metabolism in the developing sheep foetus. The parameters measured wer e: the concentrations of adenosine triphosphate (ATP); 2,3-diphosphoglycera te (DPG); and the activities of three enzymes associated with antioxidant d efense, namely glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), glutathione S-tran sferase (GST) and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent metha emoglobin reductase (NADH-MR). The level of both, ATP and DPG, and all thre e enzyme activities were considerably greater in foetal erythrocytes compar ed to those of the mothers. These results suggest that foetal cells are bet ter equipped to defend from oxidative insult. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V . All rights reserved.