title: Hydrogen-Rich Saline Promotes the Recovery of Renal Function after Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Rats via Anti-apoptosis and Anti-inflammation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hydrogen is a proven novel antioxidant that selectively reduces hydroxyl radicals. In this study, we investigated the effects of hydrogen-rich saline solution on the prevention of renal injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) and on renal function recovery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A rat model of renal I/R injury was induced by 45 min occlusion of the left renal pedicle, followed by 108 h reperfusion. The right kidney was surgically removed. Then, 0.9% NaCl solution (1 ml/kg) or hydrogen-rich saline solution (HRSS; 1 ml/kg) was injected into the abdominal cavity at 4 h intervals. We assessed the influence of HRSS or control saline solution on the recovery of renal function after I/R injury. Kidney tissues were taken at different time points (24, 36, 48, 72, and 108 h after reperfusion) and frozen (-80°C). Kidney cell apoptosis was evaluated using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive staining. Additionally, the apoptotic factors (Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, caspase-9, and caspase-8) and the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) were measured in the kidney tissues. Finally, serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) levels were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histological analyses revealed a marked reduction of interstitial congestion, edema and hemorrhage in renal tissue after HRSS treatment compared to saline treatment. After I/R injury, BUN, Cr, Bcl-2, caspase-3, caspase-9, caspase-8, IL-6, and TNF-α were all significantly increased, while Bax expression was decreased. HRSS remarkably reversed these changes. Moreover, BUN and Cr decreased more rapidly in the rats treated with HRSS compared to the rats treated with control saline solution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HRSS showed a protective effect in the prevention of renal injury and could promote renal function recovery after I/R injury in rats. HRSS might partially exert its role through an anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory action in kidney cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Jinling HospitalNanjing, China; Department of Nephrology, Yongchuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Jinling Hospital Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Zhijian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Jinling Hospital Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Jihong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Jinling Hospital Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Jinling Hospital Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Siming
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Qingdao, China.
authors.forename: Xianghua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Jinling Hospital Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Pan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yu
keywords: apoptosis; hydrogen; ischemia/reperfusion; kidney; recovery of function