Human carbonic anhydrase I concentration in erythrocytes during pregnancy and the menstrual cycle

Alternation of cytosolic carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes during deciduomatal development in pregnant mice

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the activity of cytosolic carbonic anhydrases (CAs) during the pre- and postimplantation stages of pregnancy in mice. Furthermore, to investigate the CA activity in mice in which abortion was induced by injection of substance P.

DESIGN

Controlled animal experiment.

SETTING

University research laboratory.

ANIMAL(S)

A total of 75 ICR mice (weight between 20-25 g) that showed two consecutive 4-day cycles.

INTERVENTION(S)

Substance P (2.4 microg/g) or CA inhibitor (100 microg/g), or both, were administered. Decidualized uterine tissues were collected on days 0.5-10.5 after administration.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

The activity, protein expression pattern, and mRNA level of decidual cytosolic CAs.

RESULTS

The abortion induced by injection of substance P led to an aberrant expression of cytosolic CA and a decreased number of embryos. Furthermore, substance P-induced abortion could be effectively inhibited by CA inhibitors.

CONCLUSIONS

Cytosolic CAs, especially CA II, may act as negative regulators in implantation, development, and maintenance of the pregnancy and therefore, this information could be further applied in developing therapies for human sterility.

Plasma and erythrocyte zinc concentrations in pre-eclampsia

Plasma and erythrocyte zinc concentrations were measured in 28 Chinese pre-eclamptic women and 28 controls matched for parity, race and gestation. There were no differences in either the plasma or erythrocyte zinc concentrations between pre-eclamptic and control groups, although the mean birth weight (p less than 0.001) and period of gestation (p less than 0.001) at delivery in the control group were significantly higher. In the pre-eclamptic patients, those delivering before 37 weeks or those who gave birth to low birth weight (less than 2500 g), babies had a significantly higher plasma urate concentration (p less than 0.02) compared to the pre-eclamptic patients with better fetal outcome. However, the plasma and erythrocyte zinc concentrations between these subgroups were not significantly different. Our results suggest that zinc deficiency is unlikely to play a significant role in pre-eclampsia in our patients, and that measurement of plasma and erythrocyte zinc concentrations is of doubtful clinical value in the management of pre-eclampsia.