The neuroprotective effect of inhaled hydrogen sulfide against delayed paraplegia after spinal cord ischemia in mice

硫化氢（H2S）是一种众所周知的内源性气体分子，据报道具有抗炎、清除自由基、抗细胞凋亡等作用。我们研究了吸入H2S （80ppm × 5小时）对小鼠脊髓缺血后迟发性截瘫的神经保护作用。我们的实验结果表明，吸入硫化氢治疗的小鼠在再灌注72小时时表现出明显更好的神经系统预后，并保留了脊髓前角正常神经元的数量。此外，与对照组相比，吸入H2S显著抑制脊髓前角cleaved caspase3的表达。根据目前的数据，提示吸入H2S对脊髓缺血后脊髓腹侧神经元具有潜在的保护作用，这种保护作用可能与其抗凋亡作用有关。

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), well-known for one of endogenous gas molecules, is reported to possess potency of anti-inflammation, radical scavenging effect,and anti-apoptotic effect, etc. We have investigate the neuroprotective effect of inhaled H2S (80ppm x 5 hrs) against delayed onset paraplegia after spinal cord ischemia in mice. As a result from our experiments, mice treated with inhaled hydrogen sulfide showed significant better neurological outcome at 72 hrs of reperfusion with preserving the number of normal neurons in spinal ventral horn. Additionally, inhaled H2S suppressed the expression of cleaved caspase3 in the spinal ventral horn significantly comparing with control group. According to the present data, it is suggested that inhaled H2S potentially protect spinal ventral neurons after spinal cord ischemia, and this protective effect might be associated with its anti-apoptotic effect.