Fig. 2.

Electron transport chain (ETC) activity is improved in placenta of reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) rats depleted of natural killer (NK) cells. Complex I and Complex IV activities were measured in isolated mitochondrial membranes using spectrophotometer and Oxygraph-2K, respectively. Complex I and Complex IV activities were significantly reduced in RUPP (n = 4) placental mitochondria vs. normal pregnant rats (NP; n = 4, P = 0.0046 for Complex I and P = 0.0495 for Complex IV). Furthermore, NK cell depletion (NKD) shows a trend in improvement complex I (A; P = 0.216) and complex IV activity (B; P = 0.0579) in RUPP rats (n = 3). Data are presented as means ± SE. ANOVA with Tukeys post hoc analysis was used for comparisons of the 3 groups. Significant differences between NP and RUPP were found using Student’s t-test. *Significance compare with NP.