Gender Based Changes in Cord Blood Heme Oxygenase-1

Evidences support the role for the heme oxygenase system (HO-1) in the maintenance of a healthy pregnancy, especially during pathological challenge. To study gender-based changes in HO-1 levels in cord blood by comparing the concentrations of heme oxygenase-1 in maternal and cord blood venous sample of normotensive pregnant and preeclamptic women. Fifty pregnant women were selected and grouped as group 1 (control, n=25) comprising of normotensive women immediately after delivery; Group 2 (study group, n=25) comprising of age-and sex-matched preeclamptic women. Study samples were drawn (maternal venous blood and umbilical cord blood) and heme oxygenase-1 was analyzed by competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. There was significant rise in serum heme oxygenase 1 levels in preeclamptic women as compared to normotensive pregnant women (p<0.001). Cord blood hemeoxygenase-1 levels in preeclamptic women were also significantly higher than normotensive counterpart (p<0.001).The cord blood heme oxygenase-1 levels in both the groups were comparable with their maternal levels. Maternal HO-1 were higher in mothers with female babies as compared to male (285.30 ± 28.40 ng/ml vs. 268.41 ± 35.00 ng/ml, p>0.05) in group I. Maternal HO-1 were higher in preeclamptic mothers with female babies as compared to male counter parts in group II (580 ± 111.28 ng/ml vs. 526.2 ± 74.3 ng/ml, p>0.05 ). Cord blood HO-1 were higher in female babies as compared to male babies in group I (279.23 ± 30.9 5 ng/ml vs. 273.75 ± 33.45 ng/ml, p>0.05). Cord blood HO-1 were higher in females as compared to male in group II (560.83 ± 67.33 ng/ml vs. 534.89 ± 63.76 ng/ml, p>0.05). Demonstration of gender based changes in the present study supports the idea of active contribution of placenta to maternal metabolism during pregnancy.

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