Hydrogen Gas Protects Brain Function During Sepsis in Mice
Protective effects of inhaled hydrogen gas on cognitive function in mice with sepsis-associated encephalopathy
Research hubs: Brain & Nervous System · Immune System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (mouse)
- Authors
- Lingling Liu, Keliang Xie, Hongguang Chen, Xiaoqing Dong, Yuan Li, Yong-Hao Yu
- Journal
- Chinese Medical Journal
- Year
- 2014
- Study Type
- Mouse
- Participants
- 84
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- 2% H2 inhalation for 1 h at 1 h and 6 h after operation
- H₂ concentration
- 2% H2 gas
- Duration
- 2 weeks
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
TL;DR
Breathing in hydrogen gas helps improve brain function and reduce brain damage in mice with a condition similar to brain inflammation caused by severe infection.
Key Finding
Inhaled hydrogen gas significantly improved cognitive function and reduced brain cell damage in mice with sepsis-associated encephalopathy, with improvements linked to increased antioxidant enzyme activity and reduced oxidative stress markers.
Summary
Researchers tested whether inhaled hydrogen gas could protect the brains of mice with sepsis-associated encephalopathy (a type of brain dysfunction that occurs during severe infection). Mice with sepsis that received hydrogen gas inhalation showed improved memory and learning abilities, less brain cell damage, and better antioxidant enzyme activity (protective proteins that fight cellular damage) compared to mice with sepsis that didn't receive hydrogen gas.
Practical Takeaway
This early evidence from mouse studies suggests hydrogen gas inhalation may help protect brain function during severe infection, but these results cannot yet be applied to humans. Further research in larger animal models and eventually clinical trials would be needed to determine if this approach could benefit sepsis patients.
Abstract (excerpt)
To evaluate protective effects of inhaled hydrogen gas (H2) on cognitive function in a murine model of sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE). A total of 84 male ICR mice, weighing 20-25 g, aged 6-8 weeks, were randomly divided into 4 groups of sham, sham+H2, sepsis and sepsis+H2. Sepsis was…