Introduction:
The aim was to determine the mitochondrial content, oxidative and nitrosative status in placentas from pregnant women who delivery newborns with alteration of intrauterine growth.

Material and methods:
Placentas were selected because the newborns were classified as small for gestational age (SGA, lowest 10th percentile; n = 9), appropriate for gestational age (AGA; n = 9) and large for gestational age (LGA, tallest 90th percentile; n = 9). In the placenta tissue oxidative and nitrosative status, and the mitochondrial content were determined.

Results:
Lipid peroxidation (TBARS) levels were higher in LGA placentas compared with SGA placentas, but not compared with AGA placentas. Carbonyl levels were higher in LGA placentas compared with the AGA and SGA placentas. The 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT)/actin ratio was higher in the SGA and LGA placentas than in AGA placentas. Moreover, AGA placentas did have higher cytochrome oxidase (COX4)/actin ratio compared with the SGA and LGA placentas. The AMP–activated protein kinase alpha (AMPK/actin ratio was significantly lower in placentas from SGA compared with the placentas from AGA and LGA. With respect to the adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity, this was significantly lower in placentas from LGA compared with the placentas from AGA and SGA.

Conclusions:
The placentas of LGA newborns have higher oxidized lipid and protein levels, whereas SGA and LGA placentas have higher nitrosative damage levels than the AGA placentas; the present data also suggest that the mitochondrial content is lower in SGA and LGA placentas than in AGA placentas.