Biomaterial Database

Increased Heinz body formation and impaired erythrocyte pentose phosphate shunt function during pregnancy. 1985

N A Lachant, and A J Gottlieb, and S M DiFino, and S A Landaw, and K R Tanaka

The erythrocytes of 90 pregnant women were evaluated for the presence of in vivo or in vitro oxidant damage. The reduced glutathione (P less than 0.005) and the membrane reduced sulfhydryl (P less than 0.001) concentrations were decreased in fresh erythrocytes. Following incubation with acetylphenylhydrazine, Heinz body formation was significantly increased (P less than 0.001). Both the increase in Heinz body formation and the reduction in membrane reduced sulfhydryl content correlated strongly with duration of pregnancy. Glucose consumption was significantly decreased before, but not after, new methylene blue stimulation. Pentose phosphate shunt activity was impaired both before (P less than 0.05) and after (P less than 0.001) stimulation. No changes were observed in pentose phosphate recycling. The only alteration observed in the activity of the enzymes of the pentose shunt was an elevation of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activity. Although the clinical significance of these findings remains to be determined, medications with an oxidant potential should be used judiciously during gestation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010427	Pentose Phosphate Pathway	An oxidative decarboxylation process that converts GLUCOSE-6-PHOSPHATE to D-ribose-5-phosphate via 6-phosphogluconate. The pentose product is used in the biosynthesis of NUCLEIC ACIDS. The generated energy is stored in the form of NADPH. This pathway is prominent in tissues which are active in the synthesis of FATTY ACIDS and STEROIDS.	Hexose Monophosphate Shunt,Pentose Phosphate Shunt,Pentose Shunt,Pentosephosphate Pathway,Pentose-Phosphate Pathway,Pentosephosphate Shunt,Hexose Monophosphate Shunts,Pathway, Pentose Phosphate,Pathway, Pentose-Phosphate,Pathway, Pentosephosphate,Pathways, Pentose Phosphate,Pathways, Pentose-Phosphate,Pathways, Pentosephosphate,Pentose Phosphate Pathways,Pentose Phosphate Shunts,Pentose Shunts,Pentose-Phosphate Pathways,Pentosephosphate Pathways,Pentosephosphate Shunts,Shunt, Hexose Monophosphate,Shunt, Pentose,Shunt, Pentose Phosphate,Shunt, Pentosephosphate,Shunts, Hexose Monophosphate,Shunts, Pentose,Shunts, Pentose Phosphate,Shunts, Pentosephosphate
D010659	Phenylhydrazines	Diazo derivatives of aniline, used as a reagent for sugars, ketones, and aldehydes. (Dorland, 28th ed)
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D004905	Erythrocyte Aging	The senescence of RED BLOOD CELLS. Lacking the organelles that make protein synthesis possible, the mature erythrocyte is incapable of self-repair, reproduction, and carrying out certain functions performed by other cells. This limits the average life span of an erythrocyte to 120 days.	Erythrocyte Survival,Aging, Erythrocyte,Survival, Erythrocyte
D004910	Erythrocyte Membrane	The semi-permeable outer structure of a red blood cell. It is known as a red cell 'ghost' after HEMOLYSIS.	Erythrocyte Ghost,Red Cell Cytoskeleton,Red Cell Ghost,Erythrocyte Cytoskeleton,Cytoskeleton, Erythrocyte,Cytoskeleton, Red Cell,Erythrocyte Cytoskeletons,Erythrocyte Ghosts,Erythrocyte Membranes,Ghost, Erythrocyte,Ghost, Red Cell,Membrane, Erythrocyte,Red Cell Cytoskeletons,Red Cell Ghosts
D004912	Erythrocytes	Red blood cells. Mature erythrocytes are non-nucleated, biconcave disks containing HEMOGLOBIN whose function is to transport OXYGEN.	Blood Cells, Red,Blood Corpuscles, Red,Red Blood Cells,Red Blood Corpuscles,Blood Cell, Red,Blood Corpuscle, Red,Erythrocyte,Red Blood Cell,Red Blood Corpuscle
D005260	Female		Females
D005947	Glucose	A primary source of energy for living organisms. It is naturally occurring and is found in fruits and other parts of plants in its free state. It is used therapeutically in fluid and nutrient replacement.	Dextrose,Anhydrous Dextrose,D-Glucose,Glucose Monohydrate,Glucose, (DL)-Isomer,Glucose, (alpha-D)-Isomer,Glucose, (beta-D)-Isomer,D Glucose,Dextrose, Anhydrous,Monohydrate, Glucose
D005978	Glutathione	A tripeptide with many roles in cells. It conjugates to drugs to make them more soluble for excretion, is a cofactor for some enzymes, is involved in protein disulfide bond rearrangement and reduces peroxides.	Reduced Glutathione,gamma-L-Glu-L-Cys-Gly,gamma-L-Glutamyl-L-Cysteinylglycine,Glutathione, Reduced,gamma L Glu L Cys Gly,gamma L Glutamyl L Cysteinylglycine
D006366	Heinz Bodies	Abnormal intracellular inclusions, composed of denatured hemoglobin, found on the membrane of red blood cells. They are seen in thalassemias, enzymopathies, hemoglobinopathies, and after splenectomy.	Bodies, Heinz