Hydrogen-rich saline ameliorates hippocampal neuron apoptosis through up-regulating the expression of cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) after cerebral ischemia- reperfusion in rats

OBJECTIVE(S): This study aimed to evaluate the potential role of hydrogen in rats after cerebral ischemic/reperfusion (I/R) injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experimental samples were composed of sham group, model group of rats that received middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 2 hr followed by reperfusion for 24 hr, and the hydrogen saline group treated by hydro¬gen-rich saline (1 ml/kg) after MCAO. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), S100-βprotein (S100-β), and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels were measured; the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were detected; the histologic structure and apoptotic cells of hippocampus were observed; the expressions of cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) were measured. Statistical analyses were performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Fisher’s least significant difference (LSD) test. RESULTS: Our results showed that hydrogen up-regulated H2S levels via promoting the expression of CBS in the hippocampus, and its treatment alleviated oxidative stress via activating the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1, and then cell apoptosis reduced, furthermore, brain function improved by down-regulating the levels of S100-βand NSE. CONCLUSION: This study showed that hydrogen-rich saline ameliorates cell injury through up-regulating the expression of CBS in the hippocampus after cerebral ischemia reperfusion (I/R) in rats, this provides new experimental evidence for the treatment of stroke with hydrogen saline.