@entity620 and @entity2041 ( @entity2197 ) are water-soluble antioxidants which take part in defence mechanisms against reactive @entity26 species (ROS). They may also be involved in processes of releasing/retaining @entity291 fetal membranes. Hence @entity620 , reduced ( @entity2197 ) and oxidised ( @entity9492 ) @entity2041 levels were determined in retained and not-retained @entity291 fetal membranes in order to describe the non-enzymatic antioxidative status. Placental samples were collected immediately after spontaneous delivery or during caesarean section before term and at term, and 6 groups were formed as follows: (A) pre-term caesarean section without retained placenta; (B) pre-term caesarean section with retained placenta; (C) term caesarean section without retained placenta; (D) term caesarean section with retained placenta; (E) spontaneous delivery without retained placenta and (F) spontaneous delivery with retained placenta. Homogenates of maternal and fetal placental tissues were prepared, and @entity620 , @entity2197 and @entity9492 were measured spectrophotometrically. @entity620 levels were significantly higher in the maternal part than in the fetal part of the placenta in all groups examined. In retained placenta cases the levels were significantly lower than in control @entity291 , except in pre-term groups. @entity2197 concentrations were significantly higher in placentas without retention than with retention. @entity9492 levels showed the opposite relationship and were significantly higher in samples with retention of fetal membranes than in controls. Further experiments on antioxidative as well as oxidative status in @entity291 placenta are necessary.

Non-enzymatic antioxidative defence mechanisms against reactive XXXX species in @entity291 -retained and not-retained placenta: @entity620 and @entity2041 .

@entity9492 :: ('MESH:D019803', 'Chemical') :: ['GSSG'] @entity620 :: ('MESH:D001205', 'Chemical') :: ['Vitamin C', 'vitamin C'] @entity26 :: ('MESH:D010100', 'Chemical') :: ['oxygen'] @entity2041 :: ('MESH:D005978', 'Chemical') :: ['glutathione'] @entity2197 :: ('CHEBI:16856', 'Chemical') :: ['GSH'] @entity291 :: ('9913', 'Species') :: ['cows', 'bovine']
@entity26 :: (MESH:D010100,Chemical) :: ['oxygen']
