Protective effect of hydrogen-rich saline on decompression sickness in rats

Dan-Feng Fan, Kan Liu, Rong-Jia Zhang, Run-Ping Li, Shu-Lin Liu, Wei-Gang Xu, Xiao-Xiao Ni, Xue-Jun Sun, Yun Liu, Zhi-Min Kang, Zhi-Yu Cai

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DOI: 10.3357/asem.2964.2011 DOI is the universal ID for this study.

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Abstract:

Introduction: Hydrogen (H2) has been reported to be effective in the treatment of oxidative injury, which plays an important role in the process of decompression sickness (DCS). This study was designed to test whether H2-rich saline (saline saturated with molecular hydrogen) protected rats against DCS.

Methods: Models of DCS were induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 300-310 g. H2-rich (0.86 mmol x L(-1)) saline was administered intraperitoneally (10 ml x kg(-1)) at 24 h, 12 h, immediately before compression, and right after fast decompression.

Results: H2-rich saline significantly decreased the incidence of DCS from 67.57 to 35.14% and partially counteracted the increases in the total concentration of protein in the bronchoalveolar lavage from 0.33 +/- 0.05 to 0.14 +/- 0.01 mg x ml(-1) (mean +/- SD; P < 0.05), myeloperoxidase activity from 0.86 +/- 0.16 to 0.44 +/- 0.13 U/g, levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) from 0.80 +/- 0.10 to 0.48 +/- 0.05 nmol x mg(-1), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine from 253.7 +/- 9.3 to 191.2 +/- 4.8 pg x mg(-1) in the lungs, and MDA level from 1.77 +/- 0.20 to 0.87 +/- 0.23 nmol x mg(-1) in the spinal cord in rat DCS models. The histopathology results also showed that H2-rich saline ameliorated DCS injuries. Discussion: It is concluded that H2-rich saline may have a protective effect against DCS, possibly due to its antioxidant action.


Publish Year 2011
Country China
Rank Positive
Journal Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
Primary Topic Whole Body
Secondary TopicDiving
Model Rat
Tertiary TopicDecompression Sickness
Vehicle Saline (Dissolved)
pH Neutral
Application Injection
Comparison
Complement