Hydrogen Saline Protects Spinal Cord After Injury in Rats
- Authors
- Chengwen Chen, Qianbo Chen, Yanfei Mao, Shengming Xu, Chunyan Xia, Xueyin Shi, John H. Zhang, Hongbin Yuan, Xuejun Sun
- Journal
- Neurochemical Research
- Year
- 2010
- DOI
- 10.1007/s11064-010-0162-y
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Body System
- Nervous System
TL;DR
Injecting hydrogen-rich saline into rats after a spinal cord injury reduced cell death and damage, and improved movement by decreasing oxidative stress and increasing beneficial brain proteins.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich saline reduced spinal cord injury damage in rats by decreasing cell death, lowering oxidative stress, and increasing BDNF levels, which led to improved movement recovery.
Summary
Researchers tested hydrogen-rich saline (a salt solution containing dissolved hydrogen) as a treatment for spinal cord injury in rats. They injured rats' spinal cords in a controlled way, then injected the hydrogen-rich saline into the rats' abdomens at different time points. The treatment reduced cell death, decreased harmful chemical reactions in the body (oxidative stress), and improved the rats' ability to move. The treatment also increased levels of a brain protein called BDNF that supports nerve cell survival.
Practical Takeaway
This is early-stage research in animals only, so it cannot yet tell us whether hydrogen-rich saline would help humans with spinal cord injuries. The results suggest hydrogen may have protective effects on nerve tissue, but human studies would be needed before any therapeutic claims could be made.
Abstract
In the present study, we examined the mechanisms of hydrogen-rich saline, a reported therapeutic antioxidant, in the treatment of acute spinal cord contusion injury. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to produce a standardized model of contuses spinal cord injury (125 kdyn force). Hydrogen-rich saline was injected intraperitoneally (5 ml/kg) immediately, and at 24 and 48 h after injury. All rats were sacrificed at 72 h after spinal cord injury (SCI). Apoptotic cell death, oxidative stress, inflammation, level of Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were evaluated. In addition, locomotor behavior was assessed using the Basso, Beattice and Bresnahan (BBB) scale. We observed that administration of hydrogen-rich saline decreased the number of apoptotic cells, suppressed oxidative stress, and improved locomotor functions. Hydrogen-rich saline increased the release of BDNF. In conclusion, hydrogen-rich saline reduced acute spinal cord contusion injury, possibly by reduction of oxidative stress and elevation of BDNF.