ascorbic-acid and Placenta-Diseases

Preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and placental abruption are obstetrical conditions that constitute the syndrome of ischemic placental disease or IPD, the leading cause of indicated preterm birth and an important cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. While the phenotypic manifestations vary significantly for preeclampsia, IUGR, and abruption, these conditions may share a common underlying etiology as evidenced by: (1) shared clinical risk factors, (2) increased recurrence risk across pregnancies as well as increased co-occurrence of IPD conditions within a pregnancy, and (3) findings that suggest the underlying pathophysiologic processes may be similar. IPD is of major clinical importance and accounts for a large proportion of indicated preterm delivery ranging from the periviable to late preterm period. Successful prevention of IPD and resultant preterm delivery could substantially improve neonatal and maternal outcomes. This article will review the following topics: (1) The complicated research literature on aspirin and the prevention of preeclampsia and IUGR. (2) Research evidence on other medical interventions to prevent IPD. (3) New clinical interventions currently under investigations, including statins. (4) Current clinical recommendations for prevention of ischemic placental disease.

Topics: Abruptio Placentae; Anticoagulants; Ascorbic Acid; Aspirin; Calcium, Dietary; Dietary Supplements; Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Female; Fetal Growth Retardation; Fibrinolytic Agents; Humans; Ischemia; Placenta; Placenta Diseases; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy; Premature Birth; Risk Factors; Vitamin E

The oxidative stress of placenta during fetal heart dysfunction (FHD) is lack of evaluation. So, we carried out an experiment to explore whether vitamin C (VitC) can be supplied for placental protection under FHD and its impacts on P-glycoprotein expression.. Fetal heart dysfunction was induced by two intra-amniotic injections of isoproterenol, then (VitC) was supplied. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to evaluate placental histology, and oxidative stress was measured by total antioxidant capacity, total superoxide dismutase and level of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), as well as apoptosis rate. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was adopted to measure the expressions of superoxide dismutase-1 (Sod-1), glutathione peroxidase-1 (Gpx-1) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in placenta. Finally, western blot was performed to detect P-glycoprotein expression.. All isoproterenol twice-treated fetuses exhibited significant (P < 0.05) contractile dysfunction by fetal echocardiography compared to others. The HE staining showed severe placental hydrops in the FHD group, and that hydrops could be reduced by VitC treatment. Total antioxidant capacity and total Sod-1 decreased in FHD and elevated after VitC supplementation. Also, level of AOPP increased in FHD and dropped after VitC supplementation. Analysis of apoptosis demonstrated that there was a mild increase in apoptosis rate of FHD. Reductions of Sod-1 and eNOS mRNA expression were confirmed in FHD, but these could recovered after VitC supplementation, with the same tendency of the P-glycoprotein.. Severe oxidative injuries were identified in placentas of FHD with P-glycoprotein repression. VitC administration can reduce the oxidative stress and rebuild the protective mechanism of placenta.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; Disease Models, Animal; Echocardiography; Female; Fetal Diseases; Heart Failure; Oxidative Stress; Placenta; Placenta Diseases; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Pregnancy; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

The influence of maternal vitamin C deficiency on fetal development was studied in swine with a hereditary lack of ability to synthesize ascorbic acid (OD pigs). Thirteen pregnant sows homozygous (od/od) for the defect were depleted of ascorbic acid for 24 to 38 d at various stages of gestation. Six normal (OD/OD) sows were used as controls. Only a few experimental sows showed clinical symptoms of vitamin C deficiency. Nevertheless, severe pathological changes were seen in the uterus and fetuses. Characteristic findings were hemorrhages and hematomas in both fetal and maternal placenta, and general edema and subcutaneous hemorrhages in the fetuses. Similarities were noted to the abruptio placentae syndrome in women. Depletion of vitamin C resulted in a pronounced decline in ascorbic acid concentration in most maternal and fetal organs as well as in plasma and embryonic fluids. No morphological malformations were found in the fetuses, but the ossification of the skeleton was severely deranged. Macroscopically the lesions comprised swelling of the costochondral junction and separation of the epiphysial cartilage from the spongiosa in ribs and limb bones. Another characteristic finding was loosening of the periost from the cortex, often resulting in subperiosteal bleedings. Microscopically normal osteoblasts were few and the formation of osteoid defective.

Topics: Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Ascorbic Acid Deficiency; Bone and Bones; Edema; Embryonic and Fetal Development; Female; Fetal Diseases; Fetus; Hematoma; Hemorrhage; Male; Placenta; Placenta Diseases; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Swine; Swine Diseases; Uterine Diseases; Uterus

Concentrations of histamine and total ascorbic acid (L-ascorbic acid plus dehydroascorbic acid) in the antecubital vein blood of women in abruptio placentae (normally situated placentae) and placenta praevia have been measured. The results show that blood ascorbic acid in abruptio placentae is significantly (P less than 0.05) lower than the values found in placenta praevia. This may reflect impaired absorption and/or increased breakdown of ascorbic acid in abruptio placentae. Histamine levels in the two conditions are similar to one another.

Topics: Abruptio Placentae; Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Female; Hemorrhage; Histamine; Humans; Placenta Diseases; Placenta Previa; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, Third

The first section of this paper reviews some of the effects of fetal and postnatal nutritional status on central nervous system development. It is seen that early malnutrition can be an important determinant of visual performance in children. The second section described the key role of vitamin A in the visual process. The consequences of primary and secondary vitamin A deficiencies are considered. The third section discusses some effects of diet on vision, including the role of the B vitamins and vitamin C.

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Child; Diet; Female; Fetal Growth Retardation; Galactosemias; Humans; Nutrition Disorders; Optometry; Placenta Diseases; Pregnancy; Vision, Ocular; Vitamin A; Vitamin A Deficiency; Vitamin B Complex

Topics: Amniotic Fluid; Ascorbic Acid; Asphyxia Neonatorum; Blood; Blood Group Incompatibility; Diabetes Mellitus; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Injections, Intravenous; Labor, Obstetric; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Placenta Diseases; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Pyelonephritis; Rh-Hr Blood-Group System; Umbilical Cord

Topics: Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; Alkaline Phosphatase; Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Body Weight; Corpus Luteum; Depression, Chemical; Embryo, Mammalian; Female; Fertility; Fetal Death; Gestational Age; Glycogen; Histocytochemistry; Nucleic Acids; Organ Size; Placenta; Placenta Diseases; Pregnancy; Rats; Tetracycline