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

硫化氢（H_2S）是一种内源性气体分子，具有抗炎、清除自由基、抗凋亡等作用。我们研究了吸入H_2S（80ppm × 5小时）对小鼠脊髓缺血后迟发性截瘫的神经保护作用。作为我们实验的结果，用吸入硫化氢处理的小鼠在再灌注72小时时显示出显著更好的神经学结果，保留了脊髓腹角中正常神经元的数量。另外，吸入H2S后脊髓前角切割型caspase 3的表达明显低于对照组。根据目前的数据，这表明吸入硫化氢可能保护脊髓缺血后脊髓腹侧神经元，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.