Fig. 2
Treatment with 2% hydrogen improved the 7-day survival rate and decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokines in septic mouse cortex tissues. Animals inhaled 2% H2 for 60 min starting at 1 and 6 h after the sham or CLP operation, respectively, and the H2 concentration was recorded. (A) The survival rate was analysed at 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 days postoperation. Compared with the sham group, the survival rates of the CLP, CLP + H2 and CLP + H2 + GW6471 groups were significantly decreased on day 7 (100% vs. 50%, 100% vs. 70% and 100% vs. 30%). Values are expressed as survival percentages (n = 20). (B) At 0, 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 65,75, 90, 105, and 120 min after the start of H2 inhalation and (C) at 5, 15, 30, 45, and 60 min after the termination of H2 treatment in all groups of mice. Data are expressed as the mean ± SD (n = 3). (D-G) The cortex tissues were harvested to measure inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6 and HMGB1) (n = 6). *P < 0.05 vs. sham group; #P < 0.05 vs. CLP group; &P < 0.05 vs. CLP + H2 group