Lipid Peroxidation System in Human Placental Tissue: General Properties and the Influence of Gestational Age

Abstract
The NADPH-dependent peroxidase system was studied in microsomal and mitochondrial fractions of human placentas. The optimal conditions for lipoperoxide formation in vitro were defined. Lipoperoxidation in placental microsomes and mitochondria increased with gestational age. The extent of lipid peroxide generation was higher in placentas from normal deliveries at term than in placentas from cesarean sections. The properties of the in vitro lipoperoxidase system in human placenta as compared with those of rat liver are discussed. The significance of an in vivo system for placental tissue senescence and/or prostaglandin synthesis is indicated.