Hydrogen Gas Protects Brain Cells from Oxygen Damage During Surgery
Hydrogen Suppresses Hypoxia/Reoxygenation-Induced Cell Death in Hippocampal Neurons Through Reducing Oxidative Stress
Research hubs: Brain & Nervous System · Cardiovascular System
This research was done on cells or tissue in a lab, not in people or animals.
- Evidence type
- Laboratory study (cells or tissue)
- Authors
- Rong Wei, Rufang Zhang, Yewei Xie, Li Shen, Fang Chen
- Journal
- Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry
- Year
- 2015
- PMID
- 25997722
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Delivery
- Saline (Dissolved)
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 67 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Hydrogen gas can protect brain cells from damage caused by oxygen deprivation and subsequent reoxygenation by reducing harmful oxidative stress and altering certain microRNA levels.
Key Finding
Hydrogen treatment significantly reduced brain cell death caused by oxygen deprivation and restoration by lowering harmful oxidative stress and suppressing specific microRNA molecules that trigger cell death.
Summary
This laboratory study examined whether hydrogen gas dissolved in liquid could protect brain cells from damage caused by oxygen deprivation followed by oxygen restoration—a condition that occurs during certain heart surgeries. Researchers exposed cultured brain cells to this oxygen-deprivation cycle and found that hydrogen treatment reduced cell death by decreasing harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species (unstable atoms that damage cells) and by affecting specific genetic regulators called microRNAs.
Practical Takeaway
While these results are promising, this study was conducted in laboratory-grown cells only, not in living organisms or humans. The findings suggest hydrogen may have potential protective effects for brain tissue during certain surgical procedures, but much more research—including animal studies and human trials—would be needed before any clinical applications could be considered.
Abstract (excerpt)
Background & Aims: Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) is a cerebral protection technique that has been used in the operations involving the aortic arch and brain aneurysm for decades. We previous showed that DHCA treated rats developed a significant oxidative stress and apoptosis…