Objective: Maternal hypercholesterolaemia during pregnancy increases lipid peroxidation in mothers and fetuses and programs increased susceptibility to atherosclerosis later in life. The objective of this study was to elucidate the role of the placenta in mediating oxidative stress from mother to offspring.
Design: Comparison between normo- and hypercholesterolaemic mothers (n = 36 each) and their children.
Setting: Obstetric wards, hospitals of the University of Naples and Regione Campania.
Population: Healthy primiparas delivering by caesarean section.
Methods: Biochemical measurements of oxidative stress and serum leptin in cord plasma and placenta, immunochemistry of placenta microvessels, and vasoreactivity studies were performed.
Main outcome measures: Oxidative status (i.e. lipid composition and content of oxidised fatty acids, activity of pro- and antioxidant enzymes, immunohistochemical presence of oxidation-specific epitopes) in maternal and cord blood and in placental tissue, as well as vascular reactivity in omental arteries.
Results: Hypercholesterolaemia during pregnancy was associated with extensive changes in fatty acid composition of both maternal and cord blood lipids, sufficient to alter vasoreactivity of omental vessels. Results also indicated that the placenta is not only subject to substantial oxidative stress, but that it may further increase fetal oxidative stress through changes of pro- and antioxidant enzyme activities.
Conclusions: The placenta plays an important role in both transmitting and enhancing pathogenic effects of gestational hypercholesterolaemia.