Placental oxidative stress is associated with preterm birth, preeclampsia, and intrauterine growth restriction. Pomegranate juice is rich in polyphenols and has been shown effective in reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis in several systems.
Here, we tested the hypothesis that exposure of pregnant mice in hypoxia induces oxidative stress and apoptosis in the mouse placenta and that antepartum Pomegranate juice can limit these effects.
RESEARCH TITLE: Antenatal ingestion of pomegranate juice decreases hypoxia-induced oxidative stress and modulates apoptosis in mouse placenta
COUNTRIES: EEUU
CONDUCTED BY: Wash U School of Medicine, OBGYN, St Louis, MO
PUBLISHED ON: American Journal of Obstetrics and Ginecology
RESEARCH:
Objective
Placental oxidative stress is associated with preterm birth, preeclampsia, and intrauterine growth restriction. Pomegranate juice (PJ) is rich in polyphenols and has been shown effective in reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis in several systems. Here, we tested the hypothesis that exposure of pregnant mice in hypoxia induces oxidative stress and apoptosis in the mouse placenta and that antepartum Pomegranate juice can limit these effects.
Study Design
C57BL/6 pregnant mice were randomized to four groups: (1) exposure to FiO2=12% between E15.5 and E18.5 (HPX, n=3); (2) exposure to FiO2=20% between E15.5 and E18.5 with food restriction (N-FR, n=3); (3) gavaged daily with 250 μl of PJ between E12.5 and E17.5, with E12.5 to E15.5 in FiO2=20% and E15.5 to E18.5 in FiO2=12% (PJ, n=6); (4) gavaged daily with 250 μl of 13% glucose solution between E12.5 and E17.5, with E12.5 to E15.5 in FiO2=20% and E15.5 to E18.5 in FiO2=12% (Glucose, n=6). Half of each placenta was either formalin fixed for morphology or protein extracted for western immunoblotting. HSP90, an oxidative stress marker, was quantified by immunoblotting and visualized by immunohistochemistry. Apoptosis was assayed by expression of cleaved caspase 3 and by TUNEL staining.
Results
Exposure of pregnant mice to FiO2=12% induced oxidative stress and enhanced apoptosis in mouse placentas, as measured by HSP90 and cleaved caspase 3, respectively. The cross-sectional surface areas of the placental junctional zones of the HPX mice were larger than those from the N-FR mice. Supplementation with Pomegranate juice decreased hypoxia-induced oxidative stress in both the junctional zone and labyrinth, reduced the cross-sectional surface area of the junctional zone, and lowered the level apoptosis in the labyrinth while increasing apoptosis in the junctional zone.
Conclusion
Supplementation of pomegranate juice in pregnant mice reduces hypoxia-induced oxidative stress while differentially modulating apoptosis in the two components of the mouse placenta.
YEAR: 2015