Prophylactic Instillation of Hydrogen-Rich Water Decreases Corneal Inflammation and Promotes Wound Healing by Activating Antioxidant Activity in a Rat Alkali Burn Model
Many studies have demonstrated the therapeutic effects of hydrogen in pathological conditions such as inflammation; however, little is known about its prophylactic effects. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prophylactic effects of hydrogen-rich water instillation in a rat corneal alkali burn model. Hydrogen-rich water (hydrogen group) or physiological saline (vehicle group) was instilled continuously to the normal rat cornea for 5 min. At 6 h after instillation, the cornea was exposed to alkali. The area of corneal epithelial defect (CED) was measured every 6 h until 24 h after alkali exposure. In addition, at 6 and 24 h after injury, histological and immunohistochemical observations were made and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to investigate superoxide dismutase enzyme (SOD)1, SOD2, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) mRNA expression. CED at 12 h and the number of inflammatory infiltrating cells at 6 h after injury were significantly smaller in the hydrogen group than the vehicle group. Furthermore, SOD1 expression was significantly higher in the hydrogen group than the vehicle group at both 6 and 24 h, and the number of PGC-1α-positive cells was significantly larger in the hydrogen group than the vehicle group at 6 h after injury. In this model, prophylactic instillation of hydrogen-rich water suppressed alkali burn-induced inflammation, likely by upregulating expression of antioxidants such as SOD1 and PGC-1α. Hydrogen has not only therapeutic potential but also prophylactic effects that may suppress corneal scarring following injury and promote wound healing.
The incidence of dry eye disease is increasing worldwide because of the aging population and increasing use of information technology. Dry eye disease manifests as tear-layer instability and inflammation caused by osmotic hypersensitization in tear ...
Aim: To investigate the effects of hydrogen (H2) on Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) activation in a rat model of corneal alkali burn. Methods: In each rat, one cornea was subjected to alkali exposure. Physiological saline (saline group) or ...
Aim: To investigate the effects of hydrogen (H2) on Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) activation in a rat model of corneal alkali burn. Methods: In each rat, one cornea was subjected to alkali exposure. Physiological saline (saline group) or ...
The aim of this study was to examine the effect of molecular hydrogen (H2) on the healing of alkali-injured cornea. The effects of the solution of H2 in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or PBS alone topically applied on the alkali-injured rabbit ...