New evaluation of fetal oxidative stress: measurement of the umbilical cord blood dimethyl sulfate-induced ascorbyl free radical by an electron spin resonance method.
OBJECTIVE
The aim is to evaluate intrapartum fetal oxidative stress in real-time by umbilical cord blood dimethyl sulfate (DMSO)-induced ascorbyl free radical (AFR) measured by an electron spin resonance (ESR) method.


METHODS
75 mothers delivering at gestational age after 37 weeks were recruited. They were divided into three groups: spontaneous vaginal birth (n = 27), elective cesarean section (CS) (n = 34), and emergency CS due to non-reassuring fetal status (n = 14). Umbilical artery (UA) and venous (UV) cord blood gas analysis was performed. Serum levels of DMSO-induced AFR (AFR/DMSO) that reflect vitamin C concentrations, was measured by ESR spectroscopy.


RESULTS
Blood gas analysis showed no significant differences among the groups. UA-AFR/DMSO level of elective CS group was significantly lower compared with spontaneous delivery group (0.32 ± 0.12 vs. 0.46 ± 0.14, p < 0.005). Emergency CS group showed significantly lower levels of UA-AFR/DMSO compared with elective CS group (0.25 ± 0.11 vs. 0.32 ± 0.12, p < 0.005). UV-AFR/DMSO levels had no significant difference among the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that fetal cord blood AFR/DMSO is a sensitive marker to assess fetal oxidative stress during delivery.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Oita, Japan. ynishida@oita-u.ac.jp
Yoshihiro
Y
Nishida
Shigekiyo
S
Matsumoto
Takayuki
T
Noguchi
Hisashi
H
Narahara
D000328:Adult; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D003683:Dehydroascorbic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods; D013463:Sulfuric Acid Esters / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
D013463:Sulfuric Acid Esters; C000820:semidehydroascorbic acid; C007482:dimethyl sulfate; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D003683:Dehydroascorbic Acid