Erythrocyte folate content and serum folic acid and homocysteine levels in preeclamptic primigravidae teenagers living at high altitude.

OBJECTIVE: To measure erythrocyte folate content and serum folic acid and homocysteine (Hcy) levels in preeclamptic primigravidae teenagers living at high altitude. METHODS: Measured analytes were compared to those found in normal teen controls. RESULTS: Teenagers complicated with preeclampsia displayed significantly lower hematocrit and erythrocyte folic acid levels with higher serum Hcy levels as compared to controls (36.40 ± 4.90 vs. 38.99 ± 2.89 %, 493.80 ± 237.30 vs. 589.90 ± 210.60 ng/mL, and 7.29 ± 2.52 vs. 5.97 ± 1.41 µmol/L, respectively, p < 0.05). There was a non-significant trend for lower serum folic acid levels among preeclampsia teenagers. Serum and erythrocyte folic acid levels positively correlated in preeclampsia teenagers, and levels of both analytes inversely correlated with Hcy levels. CONCLUSION: This pilot study found that teenagers complicated with preeclampsia living at higher altitude displayed lower erythrocyte folate content in addition to higher serum Hcy levels. More research is warranted to determine the clinical implications of these findings.

Fetal asphyctic preconditioning in rats results in a preserved placental inflammatory phenotype at birth.

INTRODUCTION: Perinatal asphyxia (PA) is a major cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. Research has shown that in rats fetal asphyxia (FA) can provoke neuroprotection against a subsequent more severe perinatal asphyctic insult. This is called fetal asphyctic preconditioning (PC). Our objective was to investigate alterations in the placental inflammatory phenotype associated with PC. METHODS: FA was induced in the rat at embryonic day 17 by reversibly clamping the uterine circulation and PA was induced at birth by submersion of the uterine horns in a saline bath for 19 min. The effect of PC was studied by inducing FA at E17, followed by PA at E21. Placental TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6 and IL-10 mRNA and protein levels were measured by qPCR and ELISA. RESULTS: IL-1ß mRNA increased in the labouring FA group, but IL-1ß protein decreased after both FA and PA. In the PC group, IL-1ß mRNA and protein levels were similar to controls. IL-6 protein increased 6 h after FA, however decreased 24 h after FA. IL-6 mRNA was higher in the labouring PA group. IL-10 protein decreased 24 h after FA. At birth, IL-10 mRNA increased in the PA group; however, IL-10 protein decreased in both the PA and the FA group. In the PC group, IL-10 mRNA and protein were similar to control levels. DISCUSSION: Depleted protein concentrations of IL-10 and IL-1ß after one single asphyctic insult were reversed after fetal asphyctic PC. In addition, PC placentas showed less up-regulation of IL-6 mRNA compared to the PA ones. This modulated placental inflammatory phenotype might contribute to the improved neonatal outcome showed after fetal asphyctic PC.