Hydrogen Therapy Reduces Nerve Pain in Rats by Fighting Inflammation
- Authors
- Qianbo Chen, Ping Chen, Shuangqiong Zhou, Xiaodi Yan, John Zhang, Xuejun Sun, Hongbin Yuan, Wei-Feng Yu
- Journal
- Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Journal Canadien des Sciences Neurologiques
- Year
- 2013
- DOI
- 10.1017/s0317167100016024
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Neuropathic Pain
- Body System
- Nervous System
TL;DR
Injecting hydrogen-rich saline into the spine reduces nerve pain and stress from harmful oxygen molecules in rats.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich saline reduced neuropathic pain in injured rats by decreasing oxidative stress (cellular damage from harmful molecules) and suppressing pain-related proteins in the spinal cord.
Summary
Researchers tested whether hydrogen-rich saline (a salt solution containing dissolved hydrogen gas) could reduce nerve pain in rats with a specific type of nerve injury. They found that rats receiving hydrogen-rich saline injections into their spinal fluid experienced reduced pain sensitivity and had lower levels of harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species in their spinal cords, compared to rats that received regular saline.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study showing hydrogen-rich saline may help with nerve pain by reducing cellular damage. However, the study was conducted only in rats using direct spinal injection—a method not yet tested in humans—so it's unclear whether similar benefits would occur with other delivery methods or in people with neuropathic pain.
Abstract
Background:Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are often associated with persistent pains such as neuropathic and inflammatory pain. Hydrogen gas can reduce ROS and alleviate cerebral, myocardial, and hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injuries. In the present study, we aim to investigate whether hydrogen-rich saline can reduce neuropathic pain in a rat model of chronic constriction injury (CCI).Methods:Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham group was administered sodium chloride by intrathecal injection (n=10); control groups underwent CCI surgery and were administered sodium chloride by intrathecal injection (n=10); vehicle group underwent CCI surgery and was administered hydrogen-rich saline by intrathecal injection (n=10). Drugs were administered in the dose of 100ul/kg once a day at 0.5 hours before and 1-7 day after CCI surgery. The mechanical thresholds were tested at one day before and 3-14 day after CCI surgery.Results:We found that hydrogen-rich saline significantly elevated the mechanical thresholds of neuropathic pain compared to vehicle (physiologic saline) control in CCI rats (p<0.05); it also decreased the levels of myeloperoxidase, maleic dialdehyde, and protein carbonyl in spinal cord by 7 days post-chronic constriction injury(p<0.05). In addition, hydrogen-rich saline also suppressed the expression of p38-mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the spinal cord by 7 days post-chronic constriction injury (p<0.01, p<0.01, respectively), but had no effect on P2X4R (p>0.05), an ATP receptor.Conclusion:Intrathecal injection of hydrogen-rich saline can decrease oxidative stress and the expression of p38MAPK and BDNF that may contribute to the elevated threshold of neuropathic pain in rat CCI model.