Attenuation of diffuse axonal injury by intraperitoneal injection of hydrogen via reducing oxidative stress in rats

Abstract:

To investigate the role of oxidative stress in diffuse axonal injury (DAI) and the therapeutic action of hydrogen in DAI models. Methods Totally 118 adult male SD rats were divided into 3 groups with 39 in each: sham, DAI, and DAI + hydrogen treatment. Rat diffuse axonal injury was induced by an experimental facility, which was developed to make the rat head spin 90 degrees at the moment to cause shearing injury. Hydrogen gas of high purity was injected intraperitoneally into rats of DAI model twice per day (10mL/kg). The modified neurological severity score (mNSS), histomorphology, propidium iodide (PI) staining, SOD activity, CAT activity and MDA content in the brain were assayed at 6h, 1d, 3d and 7d after DAI. Results MDA content, PI positive cells, swelling never cells, degenerated cells, glial cells and neurological severity scores were significantly increased, while SOD and CAT activities were decreased in the brain tissues of DAI rats (P<0.01). Hydrogen treatment could reverse these changes mentioned above. Conclusion Oxidative stress is involved in DAI pathophysiological process in acute phase. The decline of antioxidant enzyme activities and production of large numbers of free radicals may lead to the deterioration of brain damage. Hydrogen gas can improve acute brain injury in DAI by improving antioxidant enzyme activities and reducing free radical damage. Reducing the level of oxidative stress is of great significance in the treatment of DAI.