Hydrogen Saline Solution Protects Liver from Surgical Damage in Rats
Protective effect of intraportal infusion of hypothermic hydrogen-rich saline solution on hepatic warm ischemia/reperfusion injury in rat model
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Hannaneh Golshahi, Abbas Tavasoly, Seyed Hossein Mardjanmehr, Khosrou M. Abdi, Mohammad Mehdi Dehghan, Saeed Farzad Mohajeri
- Journal
- Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Pathology
- Year
- 2017
- Study Type
- Rat
- Participants
- 30
- Delivery
- Saline (Dissolved)
- Dose
- 1 mg/kg hydrogen-rich saline solution administered intraportal 10 minutes before end of ischemic period
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 1 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Iran
TL;DR
Cooling the liver with a hydrogen-rich saline solution can protect it from damage during periods of low blood supply followed by restoration.
Key Finding
Cold hydrogen-rich saline solution reduced liver damage markers by over 50% and decreased inflammatory and cell-death signals in rats experiencing simulated surgical blood-flow interruption.
Summary
Researchers tested whether hydrogen-rich saline solution (salt water containing dissolved hydrogen) could protect rat livers from damage caused by temporarily cutting off blood flow and then restoring it—a common problem during liver surgery and transplantation. They found that cold hydrogen-rich saline administered directly into the liver before blood flow was restored significantly reduced tissue damage, inflammation, and cell death compared to regular saline or untreated controls.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests hydrogen-rich saline may protect liver tissue during surgery or transplantation, but results from animal models do not directly translate to humans. Further research in larger animals and eventually human trials would be needed to determine if this approach is safe and effective in clinical practice.
Abstract (excerpt)
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of intraportal administration of hypothermic hydrogen-rich saline solution (HRSS) on hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Thirty rats were divided equally into six groups; 1) sham, no I/R or transfusion, 2) I/R injury (60 minutes…