Hydrogen Therapy Protects Pancreas Transplants from Damage in Rats
Hydrogen-Rich Saline Protects against Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Grafts after Pancreas Transplantations by Reducing Oxidative Stress in Rats
Research hubs: Digestive System · Endocrine System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Zhu-Lin Luo, Long Cheng, Jian-Dong Ren, Chen Fang, Ke Xiang, Hao-Tong Xu, Li-Jun Tang, Tao Wang, Fu-Zhou Tian
- Journal
- Mediators of Inflammation
- Year
- 2015
- PMID
- 25873757
- Study Type
- Rat
- Participants
- 80
- Delivery
- Saline (Dissolved)
- Dose
- 6 mL/kg hydrogen-rich saline via tail vein at beginning of reperfusion
- H₂ concentration
- >0.6 mM
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 9 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
A special saline solution with high levels of hydrogen helped protect rat pancreases from damage caused by temporary loss and restoration of blood flow.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich saline reduced pancreatic damage from transplant surgery in rats by lowering inflammatory molecules and oxidative stress markers while improving tissue appearance and organ function.
Summary
Researchers tested whether hydrogen-rich salt water could protect rat pancreases from damage during transplant surgery. When a pancreas is transplanted, it temporarily loses blood supply and then gets it back, which causes injury from reactive molecules called free radicals. The study found that rats given hydrogen-rich saline after transplant had less pancreas damage, better pancreas function, lower levels of inflammatory markers, and higher levels of protective antioxidant molecules compared to rats given regular salt water.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study suggesting hydrogen-rich saline may help protect transplanted organs from injury. However, these results are from rats only and would need human clinical trials to determine if the same benefits apply to people. The findings are too preliminary to guide any medical decisions about transplant care.
Abstract (excerpt)
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of hydrogen-rich saline on pancreatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. Methods: Eighty heterotopic pancreas transplantations (HPT) were performed in syngenic rats. The receptors were randomized blindly into the following…