title: Hydrogen-rich saline protects against liver injury in rats with obstructive jaundice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hydrogen selectively reduces levels of hydroxyl radicals and alleviates acute oxidative stress in many models. Hydrogen-rich saline provides a high concentration of hydrogen that can be easily and safely applied.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we investigated the effects of hydrogen-rich saline on the prevention of liver injury induced by obstructive jaundice in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=56) were divided randomly into four experimental groups: sham operated, bile duct ligation (BDL) plus saline treatment [5 ml/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.)], BDL plus low-dose hydrogen-rich saline treatment (5 ml/kg, i.p.) and BDL plus high-dose hydrogen-rich saline treatment (10 ml/kg, i.p.).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The liver damage was evaluated microscopically 10 days after BDL. Serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, tissue malondialdehyde content, myeloperoxidase activity, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6 and high-mobility group box 1 levels were all increased significantly by BDL. Hydrogen-rich saline reduced levels of these markers and relieved morphological liver injury. Additionally, hydrogen-rich saline markedly increased the activities of anti-oxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase and downregulated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK)1/2 activation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hydrogen-rich saline attenuates BDL-induced liver damage, possibly by the reduction of inflammation and oxidative stress and the inhibition of the ERK1/2 pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Special Treatment, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Qu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wei-Feng
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Han-Yong
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Dan-Feng
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Atsunori
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakao
authors.forename: Jian-Mei
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Ge
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Wei-Ping
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Rong-Xi
authors.initials: RX
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Jia-Mei
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xue-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D019610:Cytoprotection; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000097:blood; D024243:HMGB1 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D041781:Jaundice, Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D004731:Endotoxins; D024243:HMGB1 Protein; C104200:Hbp1 protein, rat; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D006859:Hydrogen; D002374:Catalase; D009195:Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3