Hydrogen-Rich Saline Reduced Brain Damage After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Rats
Neuroprotective Effect of Hydrogen-Rich Saline against Neurologic Damage and Apoptosis in Early Brain Injury following Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Possible Role of the Akt/GSK3β Signaling Pathway
Research hubs: Brain & Nervous System · Cardiovascular System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Yuan Hong, AnWen Shao, Jianfeng Wang, Sheng Chen, HaiJian Wu, Devin W. McBride, Qun Wu, XueJun Sun, JianMin Zhang
- Journal
- PLoS One
- Year
- 2014
- PMID
- 24763696
- Study Type
- Rat
- Participants
- 85
- Delivery
- Saline (Dissolved)
- Dose
- hydrogen-rich saline administered immediately after surgery and repeated 8 hours later
- Duration
- 1 day or less
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 99 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Hydrogen-rich saline can reduce brain cell death and improve brain function after a type of stroke known as subarachnoid hemorrhage, possibly by activating a protective signaling pathway in the brain.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich saline significantly reduced brain cell death and improved neurological function in rats with subarachnoid hemorrhage by activating a protective cellular pathway called Akt/GSK3β.
Summary
Researchers tested whether hydrogen-rich saline could protect rat brains from damage after a type of stroke called subarachnoid hemorrhage. They found that hydrogen-rich saline reduced brain cell death and improved neurological function in treated rats compared to untreated ones, and identified a specific cellular pathway (Akt/GSK3β) that appears to be responsible for this protective effect.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study provides early evidence that hydrogen may protect brain cells from damage in certain types of stroke, but it is not yet known whether these results apply to humans. Much more research, including human clinical trials, would be needed before hydrogen-rich saline could be considered a treatment for stroke.
Abstract (excerpt)
Backgrounds: Early brain injury (EBI) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Neuronal apoptosis is involved in the pathological process of EBI. Hydrogen can inhibit neuronal apoptosis and attenuate EBI following SAH. However, the molecular mechanism underlying…