Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 17, 2026
Imaging Approaches to Assessments of Toxicological Oxidative Stress Using Genetically-encoded Fluorogenic Sensors
Published on: February 7, 2018
Maternal and fetal indicators of oxidative stress in various obstetric complications
Guruprasad Rao1, Ullas Kamath, Chaerkadi Raghothama
1Department of Biochemistry, International Centre for Health Sciences and Kasturba Medical College, 576 119 Manipal, Karnataka India.
Insights
Pregnancy complications elevate oxidative stress markers like lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation in both mothers and fetuses. These indicators, including malondialdehyde, highlight cellular damage in conditions such as premature rupture of membranes and prolonged labor.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Biochemistry
- Perinatal Medicine
Background:
- Oxidative stress, an imbalance between reactive oxygen species and antioxidants, is implicated in various pregnancy complications.
- Erythrocytes serve as accessible indicators of oxidative damage in both maternal and fetal circulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the levels of lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation in maternal and fetal erythrocytes across different pregnancy complications.
- To assess oxygen radical activity as a marker for adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels as an indicator of lipid peroxidation.
- Assessment of proteolytic activity and endogenous protein damage in erythrocytes.
- Comparison of marker levels between complicated pregnancy groups and controls.
Main Results:
- Significantly elevated MDA levels and proteolytic activity in fetuses after premature rupture of membranes (PROM).
- Increased lipid peroxidation and proteolytic activity in maternal erythrocytes following lower segment cesarean section (LSCS).
- Elevated maternal and fetal protein damage and erythrocyte proteolytic activity in prolonged second stage of labor.
Conclusions:
- Oxidative stress is a significant factor in various pregnancy complications, affecting both mother and fetus.
- Lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation in erythrocytes are reliable markers of oxygen radical activity during pregnancy.
- These markers may aid in understanding the pathophysiology and potential management of complicated pregnancies.
Abstract:
The present study demonstrates the incidence of increased lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation in both maternal and fetal erythrocytes as markers of oxygen radical activity in different complications of pregnancy. In fetuses born after premature rupture of membranes, lipid peroxidation was significantly elevated as indicated by increased malondialdehyde levels (p<0.05) as compared to controls. Proteolytic activity in the erythrocytes of mothers in this group was also significantly high (p<0.01). In patients delivered by lower segment cesarian section, lipid peroxidation and proteolytic activity in maternal erythrocytes were significantly high (p<0.05 and p<0.001 respectively). In patients with prolonged second stage of labour, lipid peroxidation and proteolytic activity in maternal erythrocytes was significantly higher than in controls (p<0.001 and p<0.05 respectively). In this group, endogenous protein damage due to oxidative stress was significantly high both in the mother and the fetus (p<0.001 and p<0.05 respectively).
