Five influencing factors of the polymerization process of glutaraldehyde with hemoglobin were studied in cluding the approach of feeding glutaraldehyde, hemoglobin concentration, the molar ratio of glutaraldehyde and hemoglobin, reaction time and temperature, in order to reduce the average molecular weight and to improve the effective polymerization ratio. The results showed that the optimal process reduced the average molecular weight of hemoglobin based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) from (350.20 +/- 35.45)kD to (158.60 +/- 8.70)kD and improved the effective polymerization ratio from 53.27% +/- 4.95% to 69.50% +/- 3.70%. When the experiments expanded 30 folds, the results of the effective polymerization ratio and the average molecular weight mentioned above could be achieved.
Female ; Glutaral ; chemistry ; Hemoglobins ; chemistry ; Humans ; Molecular Weight ; Oxygen ; chemistry ; Placenta ; Polymerization ; Pregnancy

The present study was aimed to investigate the influence of freeze-drying on the quality of polymerized human placenta hemoglobin (PolyPHb). The PolyPHb solution was freeze-drying under suitable conditions. Hemoglobin concentration, methemoglobin (MetHb) content, UV spectrum, Fe3 content, oxygen-carrying capacity, pH, the average molecular weight and its distribution, circular dichroism, oxygen equilibrium curve and other indicators were measured before and after freeze-drying. The appearance, residual water content, rehydration time of the lyophilized product were also evaluated. The results showed that there was no significant difference on all the indicators measured above, which indicated that freeze-drying process had no effect on the physical and chemical properties of PolyPHb, as well as on its biological activity. Therefore, the properties of PolyPHb were stable during this freeze-drying process and could be preserved after such freeze-drying process.
Blood Substitutes ; Female ; Freeze Drying ; methods ; Hemoglobins ; chemistry ; Humans ; Methemoglobin ; analysis ; Placenta ; chemistry ; Polymerization ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVETo study ingredients penetrable through placental barrier by administering pregnant rats with Scutellaria Radix extract using HPLC-MS.

METHODRats in early, middle and late pregnancy were intragastrically administered with Scutellaria Radix extract for 5 days. Maternal plasma and embryonic tissues were obtained at 1.5, 12 h after the final administration of Scutellaria Radix extract to determine ingredients of biological specimens.

RESULTUnder the optimum experimental conditions, seven compounds were detected in all pregnant rat plasma, specifically including baicalin, wogonoside, baicalein, wogonin and oroxylin A. The seven compounds were also discovered in embryonic tissues of rats in early pregnancy, including the five detected compounds. But they were not detected in embryonic tissues of rats in middle pregnancy, and six compounds except baicalein were detected embryonic tissues of rats in late pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONIngredients contained in Scutellaria Radix are detected in pregnant rats at different stages, except those in middle pregnancy, indicating a potential in utero exposure in case of oral administration of Scutellaria Radix pregnancy. Therefore, a study of embryotoxicity shall be continued to evaluate the safety of Scutellaria Radix extract.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Female ; Placenta ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; adverse effects ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the roles of thromboxane A(2) (TXA(2)) and prostaglandin I(2) (PGI(2)) in development of oligohydramnios.

METHODSThe concentration of TXB(2) and 6-keto-PGF1 in umbilical cord blood collected from 30 normal parturients (control) and 30 parturients with oligohydramnios was detected by radioimmunoassay to calculate the TXA(2)/PGI(2) ratio. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the contents of TXA(2)R in vascular endothelial cell in the placental villi.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the concentration of umbilical cord blood TXB(2) in oligohydramnios group was significantly increased (P<0.01), but the elevation of 6-keto-PGF(2) concentration was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The oligohydramnios group showed significantly higher positivity rates of TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 in than the control group (P<0.01), and the positivity rate of TXA(2)R in the vascular endothelial cells in the placental villi was also significantly higher in the oligohydramnios group (22/30, 77.3% vs 11/30, 36.7%, P<0.05). Most of the TXA(2)R-positive cases in the oligohydramnios group showed strong positivities of TXA(2)R.

CONCLUSIONAbnormal elevation of TXA(2) concentration in the umbilical cord blood and the TXA(2)/PGI(2) imbalance are responsible for the development of oligohydramnios.

Adult ; Alprostadil ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; Epoprostenol ; blood ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; chemistry ; Humans ; Oligohydramnios ; metabolism ; Placenta ; chemistry ; Pregnancy ; Radioimmunoassay ; Receptors, Thromboxane A2, Prostaglandin H2 ; chemistry ; Thromboxane A2 ; blood

Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Humans ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Placenta ; chemistry ; drug effects ; physiology ; Pregnancy ; Rats

BACKGROUND: The effects of prenatal exposure to toxic elements on birth outcomes and child development have been an area of concern. This study aimed to assess the profile of prenatal exposure to toxic elements, arsenic (As), bismuth (Bi), cadmium (Cd), mercury (total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MHg), inorganic mercury (IHg)), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb) and tin (Sn), and essential trace elements, copper (Cu), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn), using the maternal blood, cord blood and placenta in the Tohoku Study of Child Development of Japan (N = 594-650). METHODS: Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to determine the concentrations of these elements (except mercury). Levels of THg and MeHg were measured using cold vapour atomic absorption spectrophotometry and a gas chromatograph-electron capture detector, respectively. RESULTS: Median concentrations (25th-75th) of As, Cd, Pb, Sb, Sn and THg in the maternal blood were 4.06 (2.68-6.81), 1.18 (0.74-1.79), 10.8 (8.65-13.5), 0.2 (0.06-0.40) and 0.2 (0.1-0.38) ng mL and 5.42 (3.89-7.59) ng g, respectively. Median concentrations (25th-75th) of As, Cd, Pb, Sb, Sn and THg in the cord blood were 3.68 (2.58-5.25), 0.53 (0.10-1.25), 9.89 (8.02-12.5), 0.39 (0.06-0.92) and 0.2 (0.2-0.38) ng mL and 9.96 (7.05-13.8) ng g, respectively. CONCLUSIONS THg and Sb levels in the cord blood were twofold higher than those in the maternal blood. Cord blood to maternal blood ratios for As, Cd and Sb widely varied between individuals. To understand the effects of prenatal exposure, further research regarding the variations of placental transfer of elements is necessary.
Adult ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; chemistry ; Humans ; Japan ; Maternal Exposure ; statistics & numerical data ; Maternal-Fetal Exchange ; Metals ; blood ; Placenta ; chemistry ; Pregnancy ; blood ; Trace Elements ; blood ; Urban Health

Oxygen-carrying substances based on poly-placental hemoglobin were put into freeze-drying. Sucrose was chosen to inhibit the methmoglobin(MetHb) formation. MetHb content, ultravioletes(UV) spectrum, Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were monitored during freeze-drying. As a result, when the mass ratio of sucrose to protein was above 0.5, MetHb formation was under control;the characteristic absorption of UV spectrum, SDS-PAGE and HPLC showed no visible change. Freeze-dried solids were kept under room temperature and refrigerator for 3 months. As a result, MetHb formation depended upon storage temperature and the mass ratio of sucrose to protein. For group C in which the mass ratio of sucrose to protein was 1.0; there is no marked change in MetHb content, UV spectrum, SDS-PAGE and HPLC after 3 months.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drug Stability ; Drug Storage ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Female ; Freeze Drying ; Hemerythrin ; analysis ; Hemoglobins ; chemistry ; Humans ; Methemoglobin ; analysis ; Placenta ; chemistry ; Sucrose ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo detect angiotensin II (ANG II) in the maternal blood, umbilical cord blood, and at the maternal-fetal interface in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and explore the etiology of PIH and pathophysiologic mechanism of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

METHODSEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the concentration of ANG II in the maternal blood, cord blood, and maternal and fetal placental tissues in 30 women with PIH and 30 with normal pregnancy, and the results were analyzed with independent-sample t test and Pearson correlation analysis.

RESULTSANG II level in the maternal placental tissue homogenate showed no significant difference between women with PIH and normal pregnant women (8.51+/- 4.01 vs 7.76+/-3.47 pg/ml, P>0.05), but women with PIH had significantly higher ANG II in the fetal placental tissue (11.82+/-3.92 vs 9.64+/-2.63 pg/ml, P<0.05). ANG II level was significantly higher in the maternal blood of women with PIH than in normal pregnant women (46.44+/-8.48 vs 32.43+/-5.87 pg/ml, P<0.001), but similar in the cord blood (68.83+/-8.68 vs 72.47+/-8.51 pg/ml; P>0.05). A positive correlation was indicated between the cord blood and maternal peripheral blood ANG II levels in women with PIH (r=0.7379, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONANG II in the fetal placental tissue is elevated, and the cord blood and maternal peripheral blood ANG II levels are positively correlated in women with PIH.

Angiotensin II ; blood ; isolation & purification ; Case-Control Studies ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; chemistry ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; blood ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced ; blood ; Placenta ; chemistry ; Pregnancy

To investigate the effect of placental isoferritin (PLF) on mouse embryo development in vitro, mice 2-cell embryos were co-cultured with human first trimester decidual cells at different concentrations of PLF in vitro. The following changes of the above system were observed under an invert microscope and the number of embryos were recorded and the embryos were classified. The results showed there was no significant difference in the percentage of embryos development to 4-cell, 8-cell and morula (P>0.05). PLF at the doses of 10 and 100 U/mL significantly enhanced more embryos development to the blastocyst and hatching blastocyst (P<0.05). PLF at the dose of 1000 U/mL depressed more embryos development from 2-cell to hatching blastocyst, meanwhile such phenomena as cell degeneration and irregular cleavage were observed in part of embryos, but there was no significant difference in statistics (P>0.05). It was concluded that PLF at the concentration of 10-100 U/mL had no significant effects on the early development of mice embryos, however, PLF could promote the growth, differentiation, and hatching of preimplantation blastocysts.
Coculture Techniques ; Decidua/*cytology ; Embryo, Mammalian/*cytology ; Embryo, Mammalian/drug effects ; Embryo, Mammalian/embryology ; Embryonic Development/*drug effects ; Ferritins/isolation & purification ; Ferritins/*pharmacology ; Placenta/*chemistry ; Tissue Culture Techniques

OBJECTIVETo explore the differences of metabolic footprint in the conditioned culture medium of placental explants between early-onset and late-onset severe preeclampsia.

METHODSIn 13 cases of early-onset severe preeclampsia and 14 cases of late-onset severe preeclampsia, the placentas were sampled at the surface of the maternal placenta. High performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) was used to determine the differences in the metabolites in the conditioned culture medium of the placental villous explants cultured in 6% atmospheric O(2) for 96 h. Standard samples were used to establish the tryptophan and kynurenine chromatography library by HPLC-MS to analyze the concentration of tryptophan and kynurenine in the conditioned culture medium.

RESULTSThirty-six metabolites showed statistically significant differences between early-onset and late-onset severe preeclampsia (P<0.05). The concentration of kynurenine was significantly higher in early-onset severe preeclampsia than in late-onset severe preeclampsia (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONEarly-onset and late-onset severe preeclampsia may have different pathogeneses. By detecting the concentration of metabolites, metabolomic strategies provide a new means for predicting the onset time of severe preeclampsia.

Chorionic Villi ; metabolism ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; chemistry ; Female ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Kynurenine ; metabolism ; Ornithine ; metabolism ; Placenta ; metabolism ; Pre-Eclampsia ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Tryptophan ; metabolism