Molecular hydrogen potentiates beneficial anti-infarct effect of hypoxic postconditioning in isolated rat hearts: a novel cardioprotective intervention
Zálešák M, Kura B, Graban J, Farkašová V, Slezák J, Ravingerová T. · Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2017;95(8):888–893.
Study at a glance
Preclinical
Isolated Langendorff-perfused rat hearts.
Hydrogen-saturated Krebs-Henseleit buffer during hypoxic postconditioning. · At least 0.3 mmol/L dissolved H₂.
30 minutes ischemia and 120 minutes reperfusion.
The H₂-enhanced hypoxic-postconditioning group had a smaller infarct and selected functional differences versus controls.
No H₂-only arm; the contribution of H₂ is evaluated only as an addition to hypoxic postconditioning.
What kind of evidence is this?
Preclinical
Randomized isolated-organ study
Cardiovascular and circulatory health
Other forms
Positive combined-intervention preclinical signal.
Isolated-organ injury and physiological outcomes.
Methods
Isolated Langendorff-perfused rat hearts.
Three groups with eight to ten hearts per group.
30 minutes ischemia and 120 minutes reperfusion.
Hydrogen-saturated Krebs-Henseleit buffer during hypoxic postconditioning.
H₂ dissolved in perfusion buffer.
At least 0.3 mmol/L dissolved H₂.
Ischemia/reperfusion control and hypoxic postconditioning without H₂.
Outcomes and reported result
Infarct size and post-ischemic cardiac function.
The H₂-enhanced hypoxic-postconditioning group had a smaller infarct and selected functional differences versus controls.
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.
Limitations and applicability
No H₂-only arm; the contribution of H₂ is evaluated only as an addition to hypoxic postconditioning.
Isolated rat hearts under the reported perfusion protocol.
SYRCLE animal-study tool — preliminary
Some concerns
Randomization was reported, but small groups and unclear allocation concealment and assessor blinding remain concerns.
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. Read how records and evidence assessments are prepared.
Sources and record status
PMID: 28350967 · DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2016-0693
A free publisher or repository full article was checked.
Publisher or repository full article and bibliographic record; checked 10 August 2026.
10 August 2026
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