Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Biochemical Measurement of Neonatal Hypoxia
13:13

Biochemical Measurement of Neonatal Hypoxia

Published on: August 24, 2011

Jaundice in new born and erythrocyte and plasma antioxidant defence system

S Majumder1, U Sarkar, D Sengupta

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Child Health, Calcutta, India.

Indian Journal of Experimental Biology
|April 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Neonatal jaundice alters erythrocyte antioxidant defenses, lowering cellular glutathione. Erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity increases to compensate, while plasma glutathione levels rise in this study of neonatal jaundice.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Neonatal Physiology
  • Oxidative Stress

Background:

  • Neonatal jaundice is characterized by elevated serum unconjugated bilirubin.
  • Antioxidant defense mechanisms are crucial for protecting cells from oxidative damage.
  • Erythrocytes are particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress during neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate alterations in the antioxidant defense system of erythrocytes in neonatal jaundice.
  • To evaluate the levels and activities of key antioxidant enzymes and glutathione in neonatal jaundice.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of serum unconjugated bilirubin levels.
  • Measurement of cellular and plasma glutathione (reduced) levels.
  • Assay of erythrocyte and plasma glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activities.
  • Determination of erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) activity.

Main Results:

  • Significantly low cellular glutathione levels were observed in neonates with jaundice.
  • Increased erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity and decreased cellular glutathione peroxidase activity were noted.
  • Elevated plasma glutathione (reduced) levels and increased plasma glutathione reductase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activities were found.

Conclusions:

  • Neonatal jaundice is associated with compromised erythrocyte antioxidant defense mechanisms.
  • The observed changes in glutathione metabolism suggest an adaptive response to oxidative stress in neonatal jaundice.
  • Erythrocyte G-6-PDH activity remained within normal limits, indicating its stability during hyperbilirubinemia.

More Related Videos

Measurement of Heme Synthesis Levels in Mammalian Cells09:43

Measurement of Heme Synthesis Levels in Mammalian Cells

Published on: July 9, 2015

Extrahepatic Bile Duct and Gall Bladder Dissection in Nine-Day-Old Mouse Neonates06:10

Extrahepatic Bile Duct and Gall Bladder Dissection in Nine-Day-Old Mouse Neonates

Published on: August 23, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Erythropoiesis01:14

Erythropoiesis

Red blood cells  (RBCs) transport oxygen to all body tissues. These cells survive only for 120 days and then need to be replenished. Erythropoiesis is the process of RBC production. In healthy individuals, erythropoiesis ensures all tissues are amply supplied with oxygen. In addition, blood loss due to injury leads to a drop in the physiological oxygen level that will cause erythropoiesis. Any defect in erythropoiesis leads to several physiological disorders, including thalassemia, anemia, and...
Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives01:14

Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives

The first thing a clinician sees is the skin, so the examination of the skin should be part of any thorough physical examination. Most skin disorders are relatively benign, but a few, including melanomas, can be fatal if untreated. A couple of the more noticeable disorders, albinism and vitiligo, affect the appearance of the skin and its accessory organs.
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...
Lifecycle of Erythrocytes01:22

Lifecycle of Erythrocytes

Erythrocytes, also known as red blood cells, constantly move through blood capillaries. As a result, they damage their plasma membrane due to the continuous friction. Typically, after 100 to 120 days, erythrocytes become rigid and fragile as they wear out. As they pass through small vessels in the spleen and liver, they can get trapped and break apart into fragments.
The resident phagocytic macrophages deal with these damaged cells by engulfing them and separating their globin and heme groups.
Rh Blood Group01:19

Rh Blood Group

The Rhesus (Rh) antigen is crucial in determining blood groups and ensuring compatibility during blood transfusions.
Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
Jaundice01:25

Jaundice

Jaundice, or icterus, is the yellow discoloration of the skin, sclerae, and mucous membranes. It happens when plasma bilirubin levels rise above 2.5-3 mg/dL, leading to bilirubin deposition in tissue.Bilirubin is a byproduct of hemoglobin degradation. In macrophages, hemoglobin breaks down into globin and heme. Globin is converted into amino acids, while heme is turned into biliverdin by heme oxygenase, which is then reduced to unconjugated bilirubin by biliverdin reductase.Unconjugated...