Physiol. Res. 54: 429-436, 2005


Markers of Oxidative Stress in Diabetic Mothers and Their Infants During Delivery

D. RAJDL1, J. RACEK1, A. STEINEROVÁ4, Z. NOVOTNÝ2, F. STOŽICKÝ3,
L. TREFIL1, K. SIALA5

1Institute of Clinical Biochemistry and Hematology, 2Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 3Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital and Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, 4Medica Centrum, Pilsen, Czech Republic and 5Department of Internal Medicine, St Helier Hospital in London, United Kingdom

Received February 23, 2004
Accepted August 6, 2004
On-line available December 9, 2004

Summary
Oxidative stress is probably a pathophysiological process leading to disadvantageous outcomes in diabetic pregnancies. We aimed to map a complex of potential markers of oxidative stress in this condition. Diabetic mothers had significantly higher concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in the plasma [TBARS] both before (p<0.0001) and after (p<0.001) delivery and also their newborns showed higher values of TBARS (p<0.0001) in comparison with the control group. Diabetic mothers also showed lower concentrations of reduced glutathione in erythrocytes [GSH] both before (p<0.05) and after (p<0.01) delivery and their infants also had lower levels of GSH (p<0.0001). We found a lower total antioxidative capacity of plasma [AOC] before delivery (p<0.05) in the diabetic group in comparison with the control group. Newborns of diabetic mothers had higher plasmatic concentrations of apolipoproteine B [apo B] (p<0.05), higher erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase [GPx] activity (p<0.05) and lower pH (p<0.001) in the umbilical cord blood, when compared with infants of control non-diabetic mothers. We conclude that pregestational and gestational diabetes mellitus represent increased oxidative stress for both mother and her infant. TBARS in plasma are a valuable marker of oxidative stress in this condition. Disruption of glutathione peroxidase/glutathione pattern can be involved in pathophysiology of enhanced oxidative stress in diabetic pregnancies.

Key words
Diabetes mellitus • Gestational diabetes mellitus • Delivery • Oxidative stress • Gender


© 2005 by the Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences