呼吸高浓度氢气促进小鼠脊髓钳夹损伤功能恢复

Inhalation of hydrogen gas promotes recovery of spinal cord injury in mice

目的研究呼吸高浓度氢气对小鼠脊髓钳夹损伤后脊髓功能恢复的作用。方法将36只雄性C57小鼠随机分为3组:假手术组、脊髓损伤组和氢气治疗组,每组12只。脊髓损伤组和氢气治疗组建立脊髓钳夹伤小鼠模型,氢气治疗组加以呼吸66.7%氢气持续3d、每天4次的方案治疗。观察各组小鼠的一般情况,采用BMS评分、BBB评分及足迹分析评估小鼠神经、运动功能恢复情况,观察期为1周。于损伤后第7天麻醉小鼠并取脊髓组织,采用蛋白质印迹法检测脊髓组织凋亡相关蛋白Caspase-3蛋白的表达水平,病理切片观察脊髓组织形态。结果与脊髓损伤组相比,氢气治疗组小鼠脊髓钳夹伤后的BMS评分、BBB评分均升高(P<0.05)、Caspase-3蛋白的表达水平降低、小鼠足迹分析结果和脊髓损伤区的组织形态均得到明显改善。结论呼吸高浓度氢气能够促进小鼠脊髓钳夹伤后的神经、运动功能及脊髓再生功能的恢复,有望成为临床上治疗脊髓损伤的辅助手段之一。

Objective To study the effects of hydrogen gas breathing on function recovery following clamp-induced spinal cord injury in mice. Methods A total of 36 male C57 mice were divided into 3 groups： sham group, spinal cord injury group and hydrogen treatment group （n= 12 in each group）. Animal model of clamp-induced spinal cord injury was made and a 66.7 hydrogen-4 times/day-3 days profile was given to animals in the hydrogen treatment group. The neuronal and motor function recovery following spinal cord injury was evaluated by general observation, BMS score, BBB score, and footprint analysis. Western blotting analysis was used to examine Caspase-3 protein expression; H-E and Nissl staining were also performed 7 days after the surgery. Results Compared with the spinal cord injury group, the BMS score and BBB score were significantly increased after hydrogen treatment （P〈0. 05）. Moreover, Western blotting analysis showed that hydrogen treatment decreased apoptosis associated Caspase-3 protein expression; footprint analysis and histological examination also demonstrated great improvement. Conclusion Inhalation of hydrogen gas has a protective effect against clamp-induced spinal cord injury in mice, which may be a potential strategy for future application in clinical practice.