title: Hydrogen-rich saline promotes survival of retinal ganglion cells in a rat model of optic nerve crush.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of molecular hydrogen (H2) in a rat model subjected to optic nerve crush (ONC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We tested the hypothesis that after optic nerve crush (ONC), retinal ganglion cell (RGC) could be protected by H₂. Rats in different groups received saline or hydrogen-rich saline every day for 14 days after ONC. Retinas from animals in each group underwent measurements of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, cholera toxin beta (CTB) tracing, gamma synuclein staining, and terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining 2 weeks post operation. Flash visual evoked potentials (FVEP) and pupillary light reflex (PLR) were then tested to evaluate the function of optic nerve. The malondialdehyde (MDA) level in retina was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  H&E, gamma synuclein staining and CTB tracing showed that the survival rate of RGCs in hydrogen saline-treated group was significantly higher than that in saline-treated group. Apoptosis of RGCs assessed by TUNEL staining were less observed in hydrogen saline-treated group. The MDA level in retina of H₂ group was much lower than that in placebo group. Furthermore, animals treated with hydrogen saline showed better function of optic nerve in assessments of FVEP and PLR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrated that H₂ protects RGCs and helps preserve the visual function after ONC and had a neuroprotective effect in a rat model subjected to ONC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, PR China; Graduates Management Unit, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Jing-chuan
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, PR China; Graduates Management Unit, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, PR China; Graduates Management Unit, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Qiao
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Ruo-bing
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Ai-qing
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Wen-luo
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Ai-jun
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Diving Medicine, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Xue-jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Jiajun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000187:drug effects; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D009409:Nerve Crush; D020221:Optic Nerve Injuries / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011680:Pupil / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D051845:gamma-Synuclein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051845:gamma-Synuclein; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D006859:Hydrogen