Protective effects of hydrogen-rich saline on acute kidney injury in rats with sepsis

Objective To investigate the effects of hydrogen-rich saline (HRS) on acute kidney injury (AKI) in a rat model of sepsis.Methods Twenty-four male SD rats were randomly (random number) assigned to the sham operation group,the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) group,and the CLP + HRS group (n =8).The rats in the sham operation group were treated with lapa(r ly) without CLP,while the rats in the CLP group and CLP + HRS group were made to be CLP-induced sepsis model.At 0,6 and 18 h after sham operation or CLP,rats in the CLP + HRS group received an intraperitoneal injection of HRS of 5 ml/kg,and 5 ml/kg of normal saline was given to the rats in the sham group and CLP group.Plasma levels of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-10,and HMGB1 were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),plasma BUN and Cr were assayed by enzymatic assays,renal malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were determined by xanthine oxide method,renal tissue injury was dertermined by hematoxylin-eosin staining (liE),and renal cell apoptosis was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) at 24 h after sham operation or CLP.Statistical analysis carried out by using one way analysis of variance followed by Student-Newman-Keuls (SNK) test.Results Compared with the sham group,rats in the CLP and CLP + HRS groups had increases in plasma levels of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-10,HMGB1,BUN,Cr,renal MDA,severe renal injury and apoptosis,and a decrease in renal SOD activities (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the CLP group,the CLP + HRS group had decreases in plasma levels of HMGB1,BUN,renal MDA,mild renal injury and apoptosis,and an increase in renal SOD activities (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions HRS reduces inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress,improving renal function during AKI in the rat model of sepsis. Key words: Hydrogen-rich saline ;  Sepsis ;  Inflammatory reaction ;  Oxidative stress ;  Acute kidney injury