[Tobacco smoke effects the activity of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and total antioxidant status in pregnant and non-pregnant animals].

Total antioxidant status was measured as the reduction of the ABTS radical cation as well as the activities of SOD and GPx in female rats exposed and non-exposed to the cigarette smoke, pregnant and non-pregnant. The assessment was done in lungs, plasma, kidneys, liver and placenta of Wistar rats exposed to the cigarette smoke (1500 mg CO/m3 air) for 21 days. Total antioxidant status was significantly elevated in lungs and plasma of smoke-exposed animals, pregnant and non-pregnant, when compared to the matched controls. In other examined tissues antioxidant capacity was diminished in all tested groups of animals. Activities of SOD and GPx were markedly decreased in tissues of all examined animals. Exposition to the cigarette smoke, despite some changes due to the adaptation to stress, diminishes the antioxidant capacities of the body and in the pregnant animals it may effect the pregnancy outcome.