Increase of the isoprostane 8-isoprostaglandin F-2 alpha in maternal and fetal blood of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes: Evidence of lipid peroxidation

OBJECTIVE: Pregnancy complicated by diabetes is associated with maternal co mplications and fetal abnormalities. Animal models of diabetes suggest that heightened free radical production may be implicated in the pathogenesis o f this condition. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate oxidati ve stress in plasma from diabetic rats and their fetuses through measuremen t of concentrations of 8-isoprostaglandin F-2 alpha, a stable marker of lip id peroxidation. STUDY DESIGN: Diabetes was induced in virgin and pregnant rats with strepto zotocin. Blood samples were collected after 20 days of diabetes. Adult and fetal plasma 8-isoprostaglandin F-2 alpha concentrations were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy, RESULTS: Significantly higher plasma 8-isoprostaglandin F-2 alpha concentra tions were observed in the virgin rats with diabetes and in both the pregna nt dams with diabetes and their fetuses when compared with their respective control groups without diabetes (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Oxidative stress was induced in both mother and fetus in rodent pregnancy complicated by diabetes. This finding may have implications for fetal dysmorphogenesis and in fetal programming for adulthood disease.