THE PROCESSES OF LIPID PEROXIDATION IN THE ENDOTHELIUM OF THE ARTERIES OF THE UMBILICAL CORD IN CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION

Abstract

The purpose of the work is to study the processes of peroxidation of lipids and their influence on the structure of the endothelium of the umbilical artery of newborns from mothers who had experienced exacerbation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in the third trimester of pregnancy. For the object of the study there were taken 45 umbilical cord samples during childbirth from women who had acute CMV infection in the third trimester of pregnancy (main group), and 25 umbilical cord samples from healthy women (control group). Clinical diagnosis of primary CMV infection was established by the presence of IgM antibodies to CMV and low-avid IgG in the peripheral blood (avidity index <50%), as well as CMV DNA detected by polymerase chain reaction in blood or urine; exacerbation of chronic CMV infection by the presence of IgM to CMV, high-avid IgG (avidity index >65%), and CMV DNA in scrapes taken from buccal epithelium. Lipid peroxides in the endothelium of the umbilical artery were detected by the Winkler-Schulze method. Morphological examination of the umbilical cord was performed by histochemical methods. The results of histochemical studies indicate that the exacerbation of CMV infection in the third trimester of pregnancy is associated with oxidative stress that causes the depletion of the protective systems and oxidant potential, which leads to the development of significant oxidative destruction of the endothelium of the umbilical cord artery of newborns. The revealed morphohistochemical changes in umbilical cord tissues in CMV infection can affect the functional state of this organ and be a morphological substrate for the appearance of its dysfunction, mainly the basis for the violation of fetoplacental blood circulation causing the development of hypoxia.