title: Fluidity and oxidative stress in erythrocytes from very low birth weight infants during their first 7 days of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the evolution of lipid peroxidation, enzymatic antioxidants response, lipid profile and membrane fluidity in erythrocytes from very low birth weight (VLBW) infants during their first 7 days of extra-uterine life.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twenty infants were selected and divided in two groups according to their weight and gestational age. Hydroperoxides, fatty-acid profile, fluidity (DPH and TMA-DPH) and catalase, SOD and GPx activities were measured in erythrocytes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VLBW group showed higher concentration of hydroperoxides and lower membrane fluidity during the first 72 h, lower SOD activity during the first 3 h and higher GPx activity during the first 7 days of life. Also, this group showed lower n-3 polyunsaturated fatty-acids percentage with respect to the term group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Erythrocytes from VLBW infants showed higher oxidative damage and lower fluidity in their membranes, at least during the first 3 days of extra-uterine life, which may cause alterations in their functions and flexibility.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, Department of Physiology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain. jjoh@ugr.es
authors.forename: Julio J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ochoa
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Contreras-Chova
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Araujo-Nepomuceno
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonillo
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molina-Carballo
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Hoyos
mesh_terms: D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000032:analysis; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008560:Membrane Fluidity; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D010088:Oxidoreductases