Status of Oxidative Stress during Low-Risk Labour: Preliminary Data

Abstract

Pregnancy and childbirth are associated with the forming of reactive oxygen species that generate oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a factor that may adversely affect the development of the fetus and the course of labour. Monitoring the parameters of oxidative stress can be used to assess the risk of health issues in the course of pregnancy and the condition of the newborn. Therefore, the analysis of oxidative stress in the physiological course of labour is the basis for understanding the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of miscarriages and neonatal health circumstances. The study aimed to assess oxidative stress of mother-child pairs in the venous blood and umbilical cord blood at the time of physiological labour. One hundred and sixty-eight mother-child pairs were recruited to donate the mother’s venous blood in the first stage of labour and the venous umbilical cord blood after the newborn’s birth. Total antioxidant status (TAS), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) with cofactors (Zn, Cu, Mn) and the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were analysed in venous blood plasma and umbilical cord blood. TAS value (p = 0.034), GPx activity (p < 0.001) and Zn concentration (p = 0.007) were significantly lower in maternal blood plasma as compared to neonatal umbilical cord blood. However, the activity of SOD (p = 0.013) and the concentration of Cu (p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the blood of mothers than of new-borns. The concentration of Mn in the plasma of the mother’s blood and the umbilical cord blood of the newborns was similar. Our research indicates higher levels of antioxidant enzyme (GPx) and total antioxidant potential (TAS) in umbilical cord blood compared to maternal blood, which may suggest depletion of redox reserves in women’s blood during labour.

Inflammation and Oxidative Stress Induced by Obesity, Gestational Diabetes, and Preeclampsia in Pregnancy: Role of High-Density Lipoproteins as Vectors for Bioactive Compounds

“…OS and inflammation induce impairment of placental permeability, producing a hypoxic placenta, which usually leads to activation of the maternal systemic inflammatory response [148]. As a consequence, it affects both maternal and placental functions, thereby causing intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), preterm delivery, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and aortic dissection during pregnancy [61,149]. Likewise, there is dysregulation in lipid profiles such as sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine, which have been associated with inflammatory biomarkers such as TNF-α, IL-6, and CRP [150].…”

Oxidative stress and disruption of the antioxidant defense system as triggers of diseases

“…1). Nitric oxide is a relatively inactive radical that lives for only a few seconds and quickly reacts with oxygen (Zych et al, 2023).…”

“…The initiation of the chain reaction begins with the penetration of the free radical into the lipid bilayer of membranes and lipoproteins. At the same time, lipid radicals are formed (Zych et al, 2023). The lipid radical (L•) reacts with molecular oxygen dissolved in the medium; at the same time, a new free radical is formed -the lipoperoxide radical (LOO•).…”

“…It is believed that the root cause of these disorders is oxidative stress, which is accompanied by the intensification of lipid peroxidation (Zych et al, 2023). During aging, the content of protein carbonyls in human tissues increases.…”