Activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and reductase in umbilical cord blood of newborns from mothers smoking during pregnancy
Chełchowska, M.; Laskowska-Klita, T.; Leibschang, J.
Przeglad Lekarski 63(10): 970-973
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0033-2240 PMID: 17288196 Document Number: 601961
In pregancy complicated by cigarette smoking prooxidant-antioxidant imbalance may have a pathomorphological and pathophysiological effect in fetus. Efficient enzymatic antioxidant systems are natural factors protecting cells from damaging by free oxygen species. Therefore the aim of the study was to estimate the effect of tobacco smoking during pregnancy on activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and reductase in umbilical cord blood of newborns. Healthy matched-maternal cord pairs (65) were divided into non-smoking (n = 35) and smoking group (n = 30) according to the concentration of cotinine in serum and urine. We observed that, in umbilical cord blood from newborns of smoking women activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase and reductase were lower by 30%, 15% and 37% respectively than in non-smoking. The differences were statistically significant (p < 0.0001; p < 0.01; p < 0.0001). Activity of superoxide dismutase was similar in both studied group. In erythrocytes of newborns from smoking mothers activity of superoxide dismutase was significantly correlated with concentration of cotinine (r = 0.61; p < 0.01). The similar correlation was not observed in red blood cells of non-smoking ones. Our results indicate that tobacco smoking during pregnancy may have a negative effect on enzymatic antioxidant systems in umbilical cord blood.