Hydrogen Gas Helps Reduce Endometriosis Symptoms in Rats
- Authors
- Y. He, J. Z. Shi, R. J. Zhang, D. X. Zhai, D. Zhang, C. Q. Yu, Y. H. Liu
- Journal
- Reproductive Sciences
- Year
- 2016
- DOI
- 10.1177/1933719116655622
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Endometriosis
- Body System
- Reproductive System
TL;DR
Breathing a mixture of hydrogen gas and oxygen reduced the severity of endometriosis in rats without affecting their reproductive cycles.
Key Finding
High-dose hydrogen gas inhalation (67% hydrogen mixed with oxygen) reduced endometrial lesion size and improved antioxidant markers in rats with surgically induced endometriosis, without affecting normal reproductive cycles.
Summary
Researchers studied whether breathing hydrogen gas could help treat endometriosis (a painful condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus) in rats. Rats with surgically created endometriosis breathed a mixture of 67% hydrogen and 33% oxygen for one hour daily over four weeks. The hydrogen-breathing rats showed smaller endometrial lesions, reduced cell growth, improved antioxidant enzyme levels (the body's natural defense against cellular damage), and no disruption to their normal reproductive cycles.
Practical Takeaway
This is early-stage animal research only—it has not been tested in humans with endometriosis. While the rat results are encouraging and suggest hydrogen gas may help reduce oxidative stress associated with endometriosis, much more research is needed before any clinical use could be considered. Anyone with endometriosis should continue working with their healthcare provider on established treatments.
Abstract
Objective: Oxidative stress is generated during the pathophysiology of endometriosis (EMT). Hydrogen (H2) has been demonstrated as a gas antioxidant. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the protective effect of H2 on EMT in rats. Study design: Sprague Dawley rats with surgically induced EMT were randomly received the inhalation of 67% H2-33% oxygen (O2) mixture (1 h/d, 4 weeks) immediately after the EMT surgery or 4 weeks after the operation. The mixture of 67% N2-33% O2 was also used to exclude the possible influence of the increased O2. Eight weeks after the operation, the endometrial tissues were weighted and analyzed using histology, immunohistochemistry, and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Several antioxidant enzymes and malondialdehyde were also measured in serum and tissue. The estrous cycles were monitored for H2 safety. Results: The results showed that both profiles of high-dose H2 breathing reduced the size of the endometrial explants, inhibited cell proliferation, improved superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, malondialdehyde, and catalase activities, and regulated the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 and cyclooxygenase 2. However, inhalation of the same dose of nitrogen failed to show the protection. High-dose H2 breathing did not change the normal estrous cyclicity. Conclusion: These results suggest that 67% H2-33% O2 breathing has a beneficial effect on EMT model rats, and inhalation of a high dose of H2 could be a potential method applied in clinical practice.