Measurement of Cu/Zn SOD in placenta, cultured cells, various fetal tissues, decidua and semen by ELISA.

The concentration of copper/zinc-containing superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD) was measured in placental villous tissues (8-20 weeks' gestation), decidual tissues, cultured cells from chorionic villi and amniotic fluid cells, various fetal tissues (8-11 weeks' gestation), spermatozoa, seminal plasma and ovarian follicular fluid using a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The isoenzyme was expressed in all samples expect ovarian follicular fluid. Cu/Zn SOD was also detected in hydatidiform mole and choriocarcinoma. In placental villous tissues the concentration of the enzyme increased with gestation between 8 and 20 weeks of pregnancy (n = 69, r = 0.34, P < 0.005).