Effects of hydrogen-rich saline treatment on polymicrobial sepsis

Hydrogen has been reported to selectively reduce hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite anion in many pathologic processes. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that hydrogen-rich saline (HRS) may ameliorate organ dysfunction in a rat model of polymicrobial sepsis.

Sepsis was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Twenty-four rats were equally assigned to Sham group, CLP group, and CLP + HRS group (n = 8). At 0, 6, and 18 h after CLP or sham operation, rats received an intraperitoneal injection of HRS (5 mL/kg) or the same volume of normal saline. Malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase activities, inflammatory mediators, pulmonary nitric oxide, myeloperoxidase activities, wet-to-dry weight ratio, histologic scores, apoptotic analysis, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen were assessed at 24 h after operation. The 7-d survival rate was also recorded.

HRS administration significantly reduced the serum high-mobility group box, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen levels; the pulmonary interleukin 6, high-mobility group box, nitric oxide, and malondialdehyde levels; and the wet-to-dry weight ratio, total histologic scores, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling-positive cells, whereas it increased the superoxide dismutase activities 24 h after CLP when compared with the CLP group. However, there was no significant difference in survival rate between the CLP + HRS and CLP groups.

HRS has potential protective effects against sepsis by decreasing proinflammatory responses, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in a rat model of polymicrobial sepsis.