Objective: This study was designed to observe the antioxidant effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on brains of rats after acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
Methods: Sixty-six Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats were divided into three groups including control group, CO group and HBO group.Morris water maze experiments were used for monitoring cognitive function.Antioxidant capacities were evaluated by detecting T-AOC, GSH-PX, GR and CAT activities in the brain.
Results: Compared with the control group (45±17, 43±14, 35±12, 34±11, 29±13) s and the HBO group (40±10, 39±6, 35±9, 31±11, 21±10) s, the CO group (57±5, 54±8, 52±8, 52±10, 46±8) s had the longer escape latency (P<0.05). Compared with the control group (51±6) s and the HBO group(40±10) s, the CO group (8±5) s had the shorter swimming time in I quadrant (P<0.05). Compared with the control group (1.25±0.40) U/mg and the HBO group(0.97±0.31, 0.97±0.39, 1.45±0.15, 1.40±0.25, 1.20±0.20) U/mg, the CO group (0.68±0.09, 0.45±0.17, 0.71±0.18, 0.69±0.29, 0.48±0.29) U/mg had the lower T-AOC activity of brain tissue.The GSH-PX activity (42±13, 106±46, 197±49, 173±42, 429±58) U/mg in the CO group decreased compared with the control group (182±53) U/mg and the HBO group (203±63, 325±86, 389±29, 385±100, 453±32) U/mg.GR activity (4.3±0.7, 2.6±0.5, 3.0±1.2, 1.8±0.8, 3.2±1.9) U/mg in the CO group decreased compared with the control group(14.5±3.0) U/mg and the HBO group (13.9±3.3, 4.3±1.0, 3.9±0.7, 4.8±0.9, 4.6±0.9) U/mg.CAT activity (1.6±0.8, 4.3±1.6, 3.9±1.0, 8.5±2.6, 5.4±1.7) U/mg in the CO group decreased compared with the control group(5.2±1.3) U/mg and the HBO group (5.2±2.2, 8.8±2.8, 5.3±1.0, 9.2±2.1, 14.1±3.8) U/mg.
Conclusions: HBO can improve the behavior of rats after acute CO poisoning.The antioxidant capacity in rat brain tissue after acute CO poisoning decreases, while after the HBO therapy, the antioxidant capacity in rat brain tissue can increase.