Hydrogen Gas Inhalation in Hemorrhagic Shock in Rats
Hydrogen Gas Inhalation Attenuates Endothelial Glycocalyx Damage and Stabilizes Hemodynamics in a Rat Hemorrhagic Shock Model
Research hubs: Cardiovascular System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Tomoyoshi Tamura, Motoaki Sano, Tadashi Matsuoka, Joe Yoshizawa, Ryo Yamamoto, Yoshinori Katsumata, Jin Endo, Koichiro Homma, Mayumi Kajimura, Masaru Suzuki, Eiji Kobayashi, Junichi Sasaki
- Journal
- Shock
- Year
- 2020
- PMID
- 32804466
- Study Type
- Rat
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- H2 + oxygen inhalation after hemorrhagic shock induction
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 29 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Breathing in hydrogen gas helps rats recover from severe blood loss by stabilizing their blood pressure and increasing their chances of survival, partly by reducing inflammation and protecting blood vessel linings.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas inhalation stabilized blood pressure and improved survival rates in rats experiencing severe hemorrhagic shock, working through a mechanism that reduces inflammation rather than through the xanthine oxidoreductase pathway.
Summary
This study tested whether hydrogen gas inhalation could help rats survive severe blood loss and shock. Researchers induced shock in rats, then gave them either regular oxygen or oxygen mixed with hydrogen gas to breathe. They found that hydrogen gas helped stabilize blood pressure and improved survival rates. The study suggests hydrogen works by reducing inflammation and protecting the inner lining of blood vessels (called the endothelial glycocalyx), which is damaged during shock.
Practical Takeaway
This is early-stage research conducted only in rats, so it cannot yet be applied to human health. While the findings suggest hydrogen gas may have protective effects during severe shock, much more research—including human studies—would be needed before any clinical applications could be considered. The study does not address hydrogen water consumption, only direct hydrogen gas inhalation in a medical emergency setting.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background: Hydrogen gas (H2) inhalation during hemorrhage stabilizes post-resuscitation hemodynamics, improving short-term survival in a rat hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation (HS/R) model. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of H2 in HS/R is unclear. Endothelial glycocalyx (EG) damage…