Abstract: In order to investigate the effect of hydrogen inhalation on inflammatory response in acute phase of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats, 6-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, TBI group and hydrogen inhalation treatment group. The level of serum cytokines was detected by suspension chip technology at 2, 6 and 24 h after TBI, and the neuroprotective effect of hydrogen inhalation was evaluated by modified neurological severity score (mNss) at 24 h after TBI. Meanwhile, the brain tissue was taken for Nissl staining analysis and serum biochemical indexes were detected. The results of mNss score showed that the neurological function of TBI rats was significantly improved within 24 h after hydrogen inhalation. The protective effect of hydrogen inhalation on neurons was further confirmed by Nissl staining. The results of serum cytokines detection showed that hydrogen inhalation could exert inhibitory effect on  acute inflammation induced by TBI, evidenced by remarkable reduction in seven pro-inflammatory cytokines in serum at 2 h after TBI. In addition, hydrogen inhalation markedly decreased serum levels of cardiac and hepatic biomarkers, suggesting that hydrogen inhalation could attenuate cardiac and hepatic function impairment in the acute phase of TBI. Studies suggested that hydrogen inhalation may play a neuroprotective role by inhibiting the inflammatory response in the acute phase of TBI.

Key words: traumatic brain injury, hydrogen inhalation, acute inflammation, neuroprotective effect

摘要： 为了探讨吸氢对大鼠创伤性颅脑损伤（traumatic brain injury，TBI）急性期炎症反应的影响，将6周龄雄性SD大鼠随机分为假手术组、TBI组和吸氢治疗组。采用悬浮芯片技术检测TBI后2、6和24 h的血清细胞因子水平；TBI后24 h采用改良的神经功能缺失评分法（modified neurological severity score，mNss）评估吸氢的神经保护作用，同时取脑组织进行尼氏染色分析并对血清生化指标进行检测。神经功能评分表明，TBI大鼠吸氢后24 h内神经功能就有显著改善，尼氏染色进一步验证了吸氢对神经元的保护作用；血清细胞因子的检测表明，吸氢对TBI引起的急性炎症反应具有很好的抑制作用，表现为7种促炎因子的血清水平在TBI后2 h明显降低。此外，吸氢还可明显降低血清中心脏和肝脏标志物水平，提示吸氢对TBI急性期心脏和肝脏功能损伤具有保护作用。研究提示吸氢可能通过抑制TBI急性期的炎症反应发挥其神经保护作用。

关键词: 创伤性颅脑损伤, 吸氢, 急性炎症反应, 神经保护作用