Effect of hydrogen-rich saline on liver injury in a rat model of hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation

Objective To evaluate the effects of hydrogen-rich saline on liver injury in a rat model of hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation. Methods Forty-eight pathogen-free male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 150-250 g, were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=16 each) using a random number table: sham operation group (group Sham), hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation group (group HR), and hydrogen-rich saline group (group HRS). Severe hemorrhagic shock was induced according to the method described by Wiggers.Lactated Ringer′s solution and hydrogen-rich saline were given for resuscitation in HR and HRS groups, respectively.At 6 h after resuscitation, blood samples were collected from the femoral artery for determination of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) concentrations by automatic biochemical analyzer.The rats were then sacrificed, and liver specimens were obtained for examination of histopathological changes (using light microscope) and for determination of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations (using the corresponding kits). Results Compared with group Sham, the levels of ALT and AST in serum and IL-6, TNF-α, T-SOD and MDA in liver tissues were significantly increased in HR and HRS groups (P<0.01). Compared with group HR, the levels of ALT and AST in serum and IL-6, TNF-α, and MDA in liver tissues were significantly decreased, and the T-SOD level was significantly increased in group HRS (P<0.01). The histopathological changes of livers were significantly attenuated in group HRS as compared with group HR. Conclusion Hydrogen-rich saline can reduce liver injury in a rat model of hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation. Key words: Hydrogen; Shock, hemorrhagic; Liver; Reperfusion injury