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Hypertension is one of the most common medical disorders in pregnancy and a role of nitric oxide (NO) metabolism has been described. Thus, the present work aimed at determining placental gene expression of eNOS and iNOS, to measure NO and ONOO(-) levels in patients with gestational hypertension (GH).Fifteen patients with GH and 15 healthy pregnant controls were enrolled in the study. Placental tissue was taken immediately after delivery and was stored at -80 °C until analysis. A piece of frozen tissue was homogenized in the appropriate buffer. Total RNA was extracted and was reverse transcribed to obtain complementary DNA that was used for real-time PCR for iNOS and eNOS expression, whereas NO and ONOO(-) production were measured by commercially available kits.Placental eNOS and iNOS mRNA levels were significantly reduced in GH when compared to controls. NO and ONOO(-) production were both significantly higher in GH than controls.The reduced eNOS and iNOS gene expression in women with GH reinforces the hypothesis that the mechanisms involving NO pathways, may promote oxidative damage, by contributing to the reduced blood flow and increased resistance in the feto-maternal circulation and suggests the use of NO modulators as useful tools in GH management.

Obesity and/or psychopathological disorders of parents represent risk factors for childhood obesity. The aim of the study was to investigate the link between obesity in pregnancy and oxidative stress.Venous blood was collected from 37 women at the eighth month of gestation (19 obese and 28 normal weight). Cord blood was obtained at birth from newborns of obese mothers and controls. Cord blood and maternal blood was used to separate plasma to be used for the evaluation of leptin, oxidized LDL and paraoxonase (PON1) activity.Higher levels of leptin were observed both in maternal blood and cord blood of children of obese women compared to normal-weight women. The data also showed lower levels of PON1 activity in plasma of obese women and in the cord blood of their children. Furthermore, a positive correlation was established between levels of PON1 activity in maternal blood and cord blood, suggesting a relationship between PON1 in maternal plasma and fetal cord blood.Essential obesity in pregnancy is associated with hyperleptinemia. PON1 exerts an antioxidant role; therefore, our results demonstrated that obesity exposes to an increased susceptibility to oxidative damage in both mothers and newborns.

Oxidative stress may affect the functionality of placental mitochondria, thus contributing to serious complications. For this reason research of protective substances is of great importance. Our aim was to evaluate, in mitochondria isolated from human term placentas, the effect of in vitro glutamate supplementation on their susceptibility to oxidation, on the chemico-physical characteristics of mitochondrial membranes, and on peroxidase and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activities.The study was performed on mitochondria isolated from 20 healthy human term placentas. Specific exclusion criteria were: conception by assisted reproduction, chromosomal or other fetal, uterine or placental anomalies, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), a history of smoking and hypertension, proteinuria, renal, cardiovascular, hepatic, and endocrine disease, metabolic disorders, and current infection or history of all types of infection.Incubation with glutamate determined a reduced susceptibility to oxidative stress, an increase in mitochondrial membrane fluidity, and a decrease of both peroxidase and NOS activities.On the basis of the observed results, we can hypothesize a role for glutamate in the control of lipid peroxidation extent in physiological pregnancies, as well as in the prevention of free radical-linked complications that can affect the health of both mother and fetus.