Hydrogen Therapy Reduced Post-Surgery Pain in Rats
Spinal peroxynitrite contributes to remifentanil-induced postoperative hyperalgesia via enhancement of divalent metal transporter 1 without iron-responsive element-mediated iron accumulation in rats
Research hubs: Brain & Nervous System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Rui-Chen Shu, Lin-Lin Zhang, Chun-Yan Wang, Nan Li, Hai-Yun Wang, Ke-Liang Xie, Yong-Hao Yu, Guo-Lin Wang
- Journal
- Anesthesiology
- Year
- 2015
- PMID
- 25501899
- Study Type
- Rat
- Participants
- 6
- Delivery
- Saline (Dissolved)
- Duration
- 2 days
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 43 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
TL;DR
This study suggests that a compound called peroxynitrite may cause increased pain sensitivity after surgery by causing iron to build up in the spinal cord, and treatments that remove peroxynitrite or iron could prevent this pain.
Key Finding
Hydrogen-rich saline prevented remifentanil-induced pain sensitivity in rats by selectively breaking down peroxynitrite and reducing abnormal iron accumulation in the spinal cord.
Summary
This rat study investigated why remifentanil, a powerful painkiller used during surgery, can cause increased pain sensitivity after the operation. Researchers found that remifentanil triggers a harmful chemical called peroxynitrite in the spinal cord, which causes iron to accumulate abnormally. When they treated rats with hydrogen-rich saline (a salt solution containing dissolved hydrogen gas), it reduced peroxynitrite levels, prevented iron buildup, and protected against post-surgery pain sensitivity.
Practical Takeaway
This is an early-stage animal study suggesting hydrogen may help prevent opioid-related pain complications, but it has not been tested in humans. The findings are preliminary and would need to be validated in clinical trials before any conclusions could be drawn about hydrogen water's usefulness for this purpose in people.
Abstract (excerpt)
AbstractAbstract Spinal cord levels of 3-nitrotyrosine, a biomarker for peroxynitrite production, were elevated after remifentanil infusion in rats. The administration of hydrogen-rich saline both reduced peroxynitrite production and reduced hyperalgesia after remifentanil infusion. Background…