Schiff bases and malondialdehyde as parameters of lipid peroxidation in the pregnant woman and the fetus

Aims To investigate the level of lipid peroxidation products- malondialdehy de and Schiff bases - the parameters of oxidative stress, in different tiss ues. The study also aimed at evaluation of the proportions of these paramet ers in physiological pregnancy, to determine oxidative stress that is not a ccompanied by anoxia symptoms. Methods The study was performed at the Department of Obstetrics, Institute of Gynecology and Obstetrics in Lodz, in 1999-2000. It comprised 42 pregnan t women between the 38th and 40th weeks of pregnancy. They were all under c onstant out-patient care and were admitted to the Obstetrics Department at delivery. In each case, Cesarean section was performed before labor started . The concentrations of the most important aldehyde product of polyunsatura ted fatty acid degradation (malondialdehyde; MDA) and malondialdehyde conju gation products with amine organic groups (Schiff bases) were determined wi th spectrophotometry and fluorimetry. Results The mean MDA concentration in uterine muscle homogenates was 7.29 /-1.36nmol/ml; in placenta homogenates it was 9.55 +/- 0.73 nmol/ml. The co ncentration of amniotic fluid MDA was 1.53 +/- 0.59 nmol/ml, in peripheral blood serum of pregnant women it was 2.67 +/- 0.85 nmol/ml and in the umbil ical cord artery serum it was 9.55 +/- 1.20 nmol/ml. Schiff base concentrat ion was 22.67 +/- 7.6 arbitrary fluorescence units (AU) in peripheral blood serum of pregnant women, 9.07 +/- 2.9 AU in uterine muscle homogenates, 7. 71 +/-2.2 AU in homogenized placenta samples, 23.14 +/-3.2 AU in amniotic f luid, 13.87 +/-2.4AU in umbilical artery serum and 17.22 +/- 1.7 AU in umbi lical vein serum. Conclusions We observed significant differences between MDA and Schiff base concentrations in the umbilical artery and vein serum. MDA levels in place nta homogenates were significantly increased compared with uterine muscle h omogenates. The mean levels of Schiff bases in uterine homogenates were sig nificantly higher than those found in placenta homogenates.