Hydrogen-Enriched Saline Reduced Morphine Tolerance in Rats
Hydrogen enriched saline alleviates morphine tolerance via inhibiting neuroinflammation, GLT-1, GS nitration and NMDA receptor trafficking and functioning in the spinal cord of rats
Research hubs: Brain & Nervous System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Qing Li, Haifang Zhang, Zhen Jia, Linlin Zhang, Yize Li, Rubin Xu, Chunyan Wang, Yonghao Yu
- Journal
- Neuroscience Letters
- Year
- 2021
- PMID
- 33774150
- Study Type
- Rat
- Delivery
- Saline (Dissolved)
- Dose
- 1, 3 and 10 ml/kg hydrogen enriched saline intraperitoneally for 10 min before each morphine dose, twice daily for 5 days
- Duration
- 5 days
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 10 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Pretreating rats with hydrogen-rich saline reduced their tolerance to morphine by decreasing inflammation and changes in the brain's communication system.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-enriched saline prevented morphine tolerance in rats by reducing inflammation and blocking harmful changes in pain-processing proteins in the spinal cord.
Summary
Researchers gave rats morphine to create tolerance (a condition where the drug becomes less effective over time), then treated some rats with hydrogen-enriched saline before each morphine dose. Hydrogen-enriched saline reduced morphine tolerance and decreased inflammation and damage in the spinal cord that normally occurs with repeated morphine use. The effect was stronger at higher doses of hydrogen-enriched saline.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests hydrogen may help prevent morphine tolerance by reducing spinal cord inflammation, but it is early-stage animal research only. Human studies would be needed to determine if this approach could help people taking opioid pain medications long-term.
Abstract (excerpt)
The development and maintenance of morphine tolerance showed association with neuroinflammation and dysfunction of central glutamatergic system (such as nitration of glutamate transporter). Recent evidence indicated that hydrogen could reduce the levels of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress…