The Changes in the Activity of Oxygen Free Radical Generating and Scavenging System as the Pregnant Period

Kim, Jong Ho; Sim, Jae Chul; Bae, Cheol Seong; Yoon, Hae Won; Lee, Young Gee; Park, Yoon Ki; Lee, Doo Jin; Lee, Sung Ho

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
; This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of pregnancy on the activities of oxygen hee radical generating and scavenging system in the female rats. MATERIAL & METHOD; Rats weighing 200-220 gm were grouped to non-pregnant, 2nd trimester and 3rd trimester of pregnancy. The experiment was carried out following overnight fasting. Animals were anesthetized by administration of pentothal sodium, and blood was drawn via abdominal aorta. After exsanguination, the liver, kidney, heart, lung, with or without placenta tissues were excised immediately. The excised tissue was frozen in liquid nitrogen rapidly, and stored in liquid nitrogen for analysis.
RESULTS
; The gain in body weight was higher in pregnant rats than in normal rats. Lipid peroxidation was not significantly different among all groups in the liver, kidney, heart, lung, and placenta tissue. Xanthine oxidase activity of the kidney in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy was lower than that of non-pregnant rats. Superoxide dismutase activity of the liver was significantly decreased in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pegnancy compared with that of non-pregnant rats, and that of lung was also decreased than that of non-pregnant rats. Catalase activity of the kidney was decreased in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy compared with that of non-pregnant rats. Glutathione content of the liver was markedly decreased in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy compared with that of non-pregnant rats.
CONCLUSION
; In conclusion, these results suggest that oxygen free radical will not increase in the liver, kidney, heart, lung, and placenta during normal pregnancy, but in the cases of overproduction of oxygen free radical, the liver, kidney, and lung will have me chance of tissue damage because of decreased activity of some anti-oxidant enzymes and/or decreased amount of anti-oxidant materials.