Hydrogen-Rich Saline Protects Myocardium Against Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Rats

Abstract

Protective effect of hydrogen (H2) gas on cardiac ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury has been demonstrated previously. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that hydrogen-rich saline (saline saturated with molecular hydrogen), which is easy to use, induces cardioprotection against ischemia (30 min) and reperfusion (24 h) injury in rats. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent 30-min occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery and 24-h reperfusion. Intraperitoneal injection of hydrogen-rich saline before reperfusion significantly decreased plasma and myocardium malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, decreased cardiac cell apoptosis, and myocardial 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in area at risk zones (AAR), suppressed the activity of caspase-3, and reduced infarct size. The heart function parameters including left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricular diastolic pressure (LVDP), 1(dP/dt)max and –(dP/dt)max were also significantly improved 24 h after reperfusion. It is concluded that hydrogen-rich saline is a novel, simple, safe, and effective method to attenuate myocardial I/R injury. Exp Biol Med 234:1212–1219, 2009

Study details

Article type

Original Research

Disease / injury model

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (30 min LAD occlusion, 24 h reperfusion)

Duration

1 days

Dose-dependent effect

No

Outcome

Positive

Findings

Hydrogen-rich saline administered intraperitoneally before reperfusion significantly reduced infarct size, decreased oxidative stress markers (MDA, 8-OHdG), suppressed caspase-3 activity, reduced apoptosis, and improved cardiac function parameters in a rat model of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.