Objective: The aim of this study was to determine placental localization and activity of extracellular superoxide dismutase, a nitric oxide modulator, during early gestation and to correlate these characteristics with fetal vascular development.
Study design: First-trimester (n = 10) and second-trimester (n = 10) villi were obtained at elective pregnancy termination. Extracellular superoxide dismutase was localized by means of an immunoperoxidase method. Activity was measured by determining the inhibition of cytochrome c reduction at pH 10 and messenger ribonucleic acid expression by in situ hybridization.
Results: Extracellular superoxide dismutase was intracellular within villous trophoblasts until 17 weeks' gestation, when it relocated to the villous extracellular matrix. Activities were similar between first- and second-trimester villi. In situ hybridization confirmed extracellular superoxide dismutase messenger ribonucleic acid within trophoblasts throughout gestation.
Conclusion: Extracellular superoxide dismutase is produced by trophoblasts early in pregnancy, but it remains intracellular until 17 weeks' gestation, which may be related to fetal vascular development.