The Effect of the Maternal Hypertension on the Lipid Peroxidation and Antioxidant Status in the Newborn Rat Lung

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the maternal hypertension on the lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status of the newborn rat lung. METHODS: We used adult female SHR(essential hypertension, 1b, A, 6-8 weeks), Sprague-Dawley white rats as a model of hypertensive dams. Breeding was accomplished by allowing female and male rats to cohabit overnight. The animals were allowed to spontaneously deliver at term(21.5d). The pups delivered from the hypertensive dams grouped into HBP group. Control group consisted of the pups delivered from normal dams. The content of malondialdehyde(MDA) and activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and glutathione(GSH) in the lung tissues were analysed at birth and 24 hours later in both groups. RESULTS: The body weight of the HBP group was significantly lower than the control group at birth. At birth and 24 hours after birth, MDA content and SOD activity were significantly increased in the lung tissues of HBP group compared to control group. There were no significant differences in GSH activity between the two groups. After 24 hours, the elevated MDA value was significantly decreased, and SOD activity was significantly elevated in HBP group but there were no significant changes in the MDA value, SOD or GSH activity in the control group. CONCLUSION: These results support the possibility that maternal hypertension during pregnancy is associated with an increased lipid peroxidation and that compensatory activation of antioxidant system works in the fetal rat lung.