Working with oxygen and oxidative stress in vitro

Oxygen has a profound influence on the behavior of many cell types, including trophoblast. The effects are mediated in part through the generation of oxygen free radicals, which act as signaling molecules. Because of their high reactivity, free radicals are, however, potentially damaging to a wide range of biomolecules, and if concentrations exceed homeostatic levels then cellular oxidative stress results. Responses of tissues to changes in oxygen concentration may therefore range from physiological adaptations to pathological insults. Placental development is heavily modulated by the prevailing oxygen concentration, and understanding the mechanisms involved is clearly important. Equally, trophoblastic oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathogenesis of pregnancy complications such as miscarriage and preeclampsia. This chapter describes techniques by which the effects of oxygen and oxidative stress on placental tissues can be systematically investigated in vitro.