H2 Gas Therapy for Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion InjuryScientific Research

Abstract:

Objective: We aimed to show the short- and long-term protective effects of inhaled hydrogen gas on renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in a rat model. Material and

Methods: Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 major experimental groups (Group 1, sham; Group 2, I/R; Group 3, hydrogen-I/R). Subsequently, Group 2 and 3 were divided into subgroups as early (E) and late (L) periods. Group 2 and 3 underwent 45 minutes of renal ischemia.Group 3 was administered 182.5 min (175-185 min) 2% hydrogen gas (2 L/min) in total (1 h before ischemia, by ischemia period and 1 h after reperfusion). Left nephrectomy was performed 6 hours after reperfusion in the early groups and at the 14th day of reperfusion in the late groups. We performed histopathological examination.

Results: Kidneys from control rats (Group 2) exhibit significant injury characterized by marked histological changes characteristic of I/R injury in the outer medulla and cortex regions. Histological alterations were markedly reduced and all histological scores for renal injury were significantly lower in specimens from the hydrogen-I/R group compared to the control group (p=0.001).

Conclusion: In this study, we demonstrated that hydrogen gas significantly attenuated renal I/R injury in early and late periods, and may have therapeutic potential against various clinical conditions involving I/R injury.