Protective Effect of Hydrogen-Rich Saline on Spinal Cord Damage in Rats.

Abstract

This animal study examined the effects of intraperitoneally administered hydrogen-rich saline (HRS) on spinal cord injury (SCI) in 4-month-old male Sprague Dawley rats (n=24) divided into four groups: laminectomy-only control, SCI without treatment, HRS alone, and SCI followed by 7-day HRS administration. Spinal cord injury was induced at the T7-T10 vertebral level using the Tator and Rivlin clip compression model for 1 minute with the dura left intact. Blood samples collected on day 7 showed significantly reduced interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) concentrations in the HRS-treated SCI group compared to the untreated SCI group. Histological assessment using hematoxylin-eosin and TUNEL staining further revealed a reduction in apoptotic cell death in spinal cord tissue. These findings suggest that HRS exerts both anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects in the context of acute spinal cord compression injury.

Mechanism

Intraperitoneal HRS administration suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α in blood following spinal cord compression, and reduced apoptotic cell death in spinal tissue, indicating anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic mechanisms.