Plasmodium berghei induced biochemical alterations in pregnant mice

Malaria leads to pathophysiological and biochemical alterations in placenta and blood of pregnant mice. A significant decrease in the sugar, protein and lipid levels in the placental homogenate of pregnant-infected mice was observed compared to the pregnant mice. However, serum protein content was not altered much in the pregnant-infected mice as compared to the levels in control mice. The serum lipid level enhanced significantly in both pregnant and non pregnant-infected mice. The enzymatic activities of alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase altered significantly in malaria-infected placenta. Our study clearly highlights the possible role of these enzymes in damaging the placenta which in turn may jeoparadise the fetal growth together with altered biochemistry of placenta. Therefore biochemical along with pathological alterations occurring during malaria infection in pregnancy may account for compromised maternal fetal relationship.