Anti-oxidant enzymes in fetal guinea pig brain during development and the effect of maternal hypoxia.

The development of the anti-oxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was studied in the fetal guinea pig brain at 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 days of gestation. The activities of these enzymes remained constant during 30-45 days of gestation and increased significantly during the 45-60 day period, with the exception of superoxide dismutase, which remained unchanged throughout the gestational period. The enzyme activities in fetal brain tissue at every gestational age were unaffected by maternal hypoxia (inspired oxygen, 7% for 40 min). The concurrent development of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione peroxidase during 45-60 days of gestation indicates an increased ability of the fetal brain to detoxify lipid peroxidation products by reinforcing the glutathione system. The results of this study indicate that the anti-oxidant enzymatic defense mechanisms in the guinea pig brain are fairly mature at birth. However, these mechanisms are underdeveloped during the early stages of gestation and, therefore, during this period the brain might be at potential risk for lipid peroxidative damage under conditions leading to increased formation of oxygen free radicals.