Total peroxyl radical-trapping ability and anti-oxidant vitamins of the umbilical venous plasma and the placenta in pre-eclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to investigate lipid peroxide levels, total peroxyl radical-trapping anti-oxidative parameter (TRAP) values, and anti-oxidant vitamin levels in umbilical venous plasma and placental tissues, and to evaluate their roles in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia.


METHODS
Samples of umbilical venous plasma and placental tissue homogenates were obtained from 23 normal and 18 pre-eclamptic women at between 33 and 40 weeks' gestation. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method was used to assay alpha-tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha), and lipid peroxide levels were measured by thiobarbituric acid reaction. The TRAP values were measured using the modified Wayner's method. Ascorbic acid, retinol alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol were measured by high performance liquid chromatography.


RESULTS
Levels of TNF-alpha in placental tissue homogenates of women with pre-eclampsia were significantly higher than those of women with normal pregnancy (21.4 +/- 3.39 v. 10.3 +/- 1.06 pg/mL, P < 0.05). Lipid peroxide levels in umbilical venous plasma and placental tissue homogenates of women with pre-eclampsia were significantly higher than those of women with normal pregnancy (10.3 +/- 1.1 v. 5.85 +/- 0.53, P < 0.01, 5.14 +/- 0.40 v. 3.99 +/- 0.33 nmol/mg protein, P < 0.05, respectively). The TRAP values in umbilical venous plasma and placental tissue homogenates of women with pre-eclampsia were significantly lower than those of women with normal pregnancy (0.39 +/- 0.02 v. 0.45 +/- 0.02, P < 0.05, 0.27 +/- 0.02 v. 0.34 +/- 0.03 mM, P < 0.05, respectively). Ascorbic acid levels in umbilical venous plasma and placental tissue homogenates of women with pre-eclampsia were significantly lower than those of women with normal pregnancy (325.4 +/- 50.4 v. 543 +/- 73.8, P < 0.05, 219.0 +/- 21.0 v. 333.3 +/- 32.6 nmol/mL, P < 0.05, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The above results suggest that increased oxidative stress in the placenta is involved in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia, and ascorbic acid may act as an important preventative factor in the development of pre-eclampsia.
Kim
Yoon Ha
YH
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. kimyh@chonnam.ac.kr
Kim
Cheol Hong
CH
Cho
Moon Kyoung
MK
Kim
Ki Min
KM
Lee
So Yoon
SY
Ahn
Bong Whan
BW
Yang
Sung Yeul
SY
Kim
Seok Mo
SM
Song
Tae Bog
TB
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D010545:Peroxides / Q000378:metabolism; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000098:blood supply
D000975:Antioxidants; D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D010545:Peroxides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C049375:perhydroxyl radical