Regional variations in the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the term human placenta.

This study investigated the influence of the location of the sampling site during enzymatic analyses of 31 human term placentae. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione transferase, glutathione reductase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were measured in fetal membranes, umbilical cords and placental disc. The disc samples were obtained from central (peri-insertion and mid-disc fetal and maternal halves), and peripheral regions. Significant variations were found. This study demonstrates the importance of defining the location of the sampling site in studies involving enzymatic analysis of the placenta.