Hydrogenology
Hydrogenology editorial study record

Hydrogen-rich saline attenuated neuropathic pain by reducing oxidative stress

Chen Q, Chen P, Zhou S, Yan X, Zhang J, Sun X, Yuan H, Yu W. · Can J Neurol Sci. 2013;40(6):857–863.

PreclinicalOther formsPublished 2013
Study record, not medical adviceThis page reports one source and Hydrogenology’s source-text extraction. It does not establish that molecular hydrogen is effective, safe or appropriate for any person. Human, animal and laboratory evidence must not be treated as equivalent.
Source and classification

What kind of evidence is this?

Evidence stream

Preclinical

Reported design

Randomized controlled rat study

Research topic

Musculoskeletal and pain research

Administration classification

Other forms

Study result signal

Mixed positive preclinical signal.

Outcome type

Behavioral and spinal-cord biomarker outcomes in a neuropathic-pain model.

Reported in the source

Methods at a glance

Population or model

Sprague-Dawley rats with chronic constriction injury.

Sample

30 rats; three groups of 10.

Duration

Seven treatment days with behavioral follow-up through day 14.

Intervention

Intrathecal hydrogen-rich saline, 100 μL/kg daily on days 1–7.

Hydrogen form

H₂ dissolved in saline.

H₂ specification

At least 0.6 mmol/L dissolved H₂.

H₂ flow

Not applicable — intrathecal saline.

O₂ delivered with H₂

No oxygen was co-delivered.

Comparator

Sham and constriction-injury groups receiving physiological saline.

Reported, not endorsed

Outcomes and reported result

Outcomes measured

Mechanical withdrawal threshold, spinal oxidative markers and p38 MAPK, BDNF and P2X4R expression.

Reported result

Withdrawal thresholds and several oxidative and signaling measures favored hydrogen-rich saline; P2X4R did not differ.

Results-extraction completeness

The full article methods, intervention, outcomes, positive and null findings, funding and conflict statements were checked.

A reported association, difference or mechanism is not automatically a clinical benefit. Null findings, outcome type, study design and precision all matter.

Interpretation limits

Cautions and applicability

Design and reporting cautions

Animal evidence only; multiple outcomes and limited blinding information.

Applies directly to

The reported rat constriction-injury model only.

Preliminary appraisal framework

SYRCLE animal-study tool — preliminary

Preliminary risk-of-bias status

Some concerns

Appraisal rationale

Random allocation was stated, but concealment and blinded outcome assessment were not established.

Appraisal domains

Sequence generation checked where reported · Allocation concealment generally unclear · Personnel blinding generally unclear · Outcome-assessor blinding generally unclear · No prospectively registered analysis plan identified

No single-study GRADE certainty rating is assigned. Certainty is assessed by important outcome across a complete eligible evidence set, not by attaching a final grade to one source.

Provenance

Sources and record status

Identifiers

PMID: 24257230 · DOI: 10.1017/s0317167100016024

Publisher access

A free publisher or repository full article was checked.

Extraction basis

Publisher or repository full article and bibliographic record; checked 10 August 2026.

Record revision

2026-08-10

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