Hydrogen Saline Prevents Eye Damage from High Oxygen in Newborn Mice
- Authors
- Lina Huang, Shihong Zhao, John H. Zhang, Xuejun Sun
- Journal
- Ophthalmic Research
- Year
- 2011
- DOI
- 10.1159/000329600
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Hyperoxia-Induced Retinopathy
- Body System
- Visual
TL;DR
Hydrogen saline injections may help treat a type of blindness in mice by reducing harmful oxidative stress and blood vessel growth in the retina.
Key Finding
Hydrogen saline treatment reduced abnormal retinal blood vessel growth and decreased oxidative stress markers in a mouse model of oxygen-induced eye damage.
Summary
Researchers tested whether hydrogen-infused saline could help prevent eye damage in newborn mice exposed to high oxygen levels. They found that hydrogen saline reduced abnormal blood vessel growth in the retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye), lowered markers of cellular damage, and decreased levels of a protein that promotes blood vessel formation.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study showing hydrogen saline may help prevent a type of retinal damage caused by high oxygen exposure. However, this was tested only in newborn mice, not humans, so it's too early to know if these results would apply to people. More research, including human studies, would be needed before hydrogen saline could be considered a treatment option.
Abstract
<i>Objective:</i> Retinal neovascularization or retinopathy is a proliferative disorder of the retinal capillaries and is the primary cause of blindness. Some studies have shown that oxidative stress plays an important role in hyperoxia-induced retinal neovascularization. Previous reports have indicated that hydrogen has a therapeutic, antioxidant activity by selectively reducing hydroxyl radicals. This study examined the therapeutic effect of hydrogen saline on retinopathy in an established mouse model of hyperoxia-induced retinopathy. <i>Methods:</i> Mouse pups were exposed to 75% O<sub>2</sub> from postnatal day 7 (P7) to P12. Hydrogen saline was administered by intraperitoneal injection (5 ml/kg) daily for 5 days. On P17, the pups were decapitated, and retinal neovascularization was assessed using fluorescence imaging and histopathological examination. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction and fluorescence immunohistochemistry. Oxidative stress was quantified based on the malondialdehyde (MDA) level. <i>Results:</i> Hydrogen saline decreased retinal neovascularization, reduced the mRNA and protein expression of VEGF, and suppressed the MDA levels. <i>Conclusions:</i> Hydrogen saline may be a potential treatment for hyperoxia-induced retinopathy that acts via the inhibition of oxidative stress and the reduction of VEGF expression.