Effects of hyperbaric oxygen on diaphragmatic damage induced by sepsis in rats

Objective To study protective effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on diaphragmatic damage induced by sepsis in rats. Methods Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: group A (the sham group, n = 10), group B (the sepsis group, n = 10) and group C (the HBO-treatment group, n = 10). Rats of group A were administered abdominal operation, and were then sutured following chloral hydrate anesthesia. For animals in group B and C, the sepsis rat model was developed with cecal ligation and puncture, and rats of group C were immediately treated with HBO. All the animals were sacrificed 16 hours after operation. Then, the left diaphragnmtic muscle was taken to treasure muscular contractility and the fight one to detect concentrations of MDA and SOD. Apoptosis of diaphragnmtic muscle cells and the pathological section examination were also made. Results Concentrations of MDA and rate of diaphragmatic muscle cell apoptosis of group B increased markedly, when compared with those of group A, while SOD concentration and muscular contractility of group B decreased significantly than those of group A, with a marked statistical difference (P < 0.01). Following HBO therapy, concentrations of MDA, SOD, diaphragmatic muscle cell apoptosis rate and muscular contractifity recovered obviously, with obvious statistical differences, when compsrisons were made between the two (P<0.01). Conclusions HBO could effectively inhibit formation of oxygen free radicals, reduce oxidative stress and the level of diaphragmatic injury in sepsis. Key words: Sepsis;  Oxidative stress;  Hyperbaric oxygen;  Diaphyagmatic damage