ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of hydrogen-rich saline on blood pressure and antioxidant ability of lung tissue in scalded rats following delayed resuscitation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The hydrogen-rich saline was prepared (hydrogen-saturated normal saline with hydrogen concentration of 0.6 mmol/L). Twenty SD rats were divided into hydrogen-rich saline group (HS) and normal saline group (NS) according to the random number table, with 10 rats in each group. All the rats were subjected to 30% total body surface area (TBSA) full-thickness scald. Rats in HS and NS groups were infused with hydrogen-rich saline or normal saline with one half of the total fluid replacement volume as calculated according to the Parkland formula (4 mL×kg(-1)×%TBSA(-1)) at post scald hour (PSH) 7 and one-quarter of the volume at PSH 9 and 17 respectively. The general condition of rats during the experiment was observed. The systolic pressure of rats was measured at PSH 6 and 24. All rats were sacrificed at PSH 24 to collect lung tissue for detecting superoxide dismutase (SOD) inhibition ratio and malondialdehyde (MDA) level. Data were processed with t test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All rats survived through the experiment. The systolic pressure of rats in HS group and NS group was respectively (87 ± 4) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) and (86 ± 5) mm Hg at PSH 6, and the values were close (t = 0.213, P = 0.834); however the systolic pressure at 24 h was higher in HS group than in NS group [(124 ± 7) mm Hg vs. (115 ± 6) mm Hg, t = 2.958, P = 0.008]. SOD inhibition ratio of lung tissue in HS group [(0.465 ± 0.014)%] was higher than that in NS group [(0.358 ± 0.021)%, t = 11.767, P = 0.000]. MDA level of lung tissue in HS group [(922 ± 196) pmol/mg] was lower than that in NS group [(1118 ± 212) pmol/mg, t = -2.142, P = 0.046].</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Delayed resuscitation for scalded rats with hydrogen-rich saline is helpful in the recovery of systolic pressure, and it can ameliorate lung tissue injury caused by reperfusion through enhancing the effect of antioxidase.</p>