ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate lipid peroxide levels, total peroxyl radical-trapping antioxidative parameter (TRAP) values, and antioxidant vitamin levels in placental tissues of women with preeclampsia and to evaluate their roles in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN: Samples of placental tissue homogenates were obtained from 23 normal and 18 preeclamptic women between 33 and 40 weeks gestation. TNF-alpha was assayed by an enzyme-linked immunoassay. Lipid peroxide levels measured by thiobarbituric acid reaction. The TRAP values were measured by modified Wayners method. Ascorbic acid, uric acid, retinol, alpha-tocopherol, and gamma-tocopherol were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) CoulArray detector. RESULTS: TNF-alpha levels in placental tissue homogenates of women with preeclampsia were significantly higher than that of women with preeclampsia (21.4+/-3.39 vs. 10.3+/-1.06 pg/ml, p<0.05). Lipid peroxide levels in placental tissue homogenates of women with preeclampsia were significantly higher than that of women with preeclampsia (6.65+/-0.57 vs. 4.98+/-0.37 nmol/mg protein, p<0.05). TRAP values in placental tissue homogenates of women with preeclampsia were significantly lower than that of women with normal pregnancy (0.24+/-0.02 vs. 0.31+/-0.03 mM, p<0.05). Ascorbic acid levels in placental tissue homogenates of women with preeclampsia were significantly lower than that of women with normal pregnancy (217.0+/-21.0 vs. 333.3+/-32.8 nmol/ml, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The above results suggest that increased oxidative stress in placenta is involved in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia and ascorbic acid may act as an important preventive factor in the development of preeclampsia.