Abstract: AIM: To evaluate the changes of antioxidative function of placenta with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) in rats and to find out the effect and mechanism of Chinese angelica liquid injection.METHODS: The model of IUGR rat was made by means of passive smoking and drinking alcohol.Some pregnant rats were treated with Chinese angelica liquid injection, the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH), and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (Cat), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in rat placenta were measured.RESULTS: The contents of MDA and GSH in IUGR group were higher than those in the normal control group (P <0.01 or P <0.05).Meanwhile, the activities of SOD, Cat and GSH-Px in IUGR group were lower than those in the normal control group (P <0.01 or P <0.05).These indexes were reversed after the treatment of Chinese angelica liquid injection, and fetal growth and development in treated group were near to those in the normal control group.CONCLUSION: Oxidative damage occurred in placenta may be an important mechanism of IUGR formation.Chinese angelica liquid injection can enhance antioxidative function of placenta and promote fetal growth and development.

Key words: intrauterine growth retardation, placenta, tobacco, alcohol, Chinese angelica liquid injection