4.4 Article

Oxidative stress and the evolutionary origins of preeclampsia

Journal

JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY
Volume 114, Issue -, Pages 75-80

Publisher

ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2016.02.003

Keywords

Preeclampsia; Hemochorial placentation; Epitheliochorial placentation; Oxidative stress

Ask authors/readers for more resources

In this speculative paper, I consider the relationship between oxidative stress and the evolution of placentation in eutherian mammals. I argue that epitheliochorial placentation, in which fetal tissues remain separated from maternal blood throughout gestation, has evolved as a protective mechanism against oxidative stress arising from pregnancy, particularly in species with unusually long gestation periods and unusually large placentas. Human beings comprise an unusual species that has the life history characteristics of an epitheliochorial species, but exhibits hemochorial placentation, in which fetal tissues come into direct contact with maternal blood. I argue that the risk of preeclampsia has arisen as a consequence of the failure of human beings to evolve epitheliochorial placentation. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.4
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

No Data Available
No Data Available