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Yang B, Liu J, Ding L, Li M, Fu X, Li Z, Cheng J, Liu N. Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Attenuates Renal

Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Rats. Undersea Hyperb Med. 2026 Second Quarter; 53(2):279-290.

Introduction: Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is a critical condition with high morbidity and mortality, often

caused by ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBO2) enhances tissue

oxygenation and has shown potential in hypoxic conditions. This study evaluated the efficacy of HBO2 in

mitigating renal I/R injury in a rat model.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: Control (sham surgery, n = 9), I/R (n

= 9), and I/R+HBO (n = 9). I/R was induced by 30-minute bilateral renal pedicle occlusion followed by

reperfusion. The I/R+HBO group received two sessions of HBO2 (90 min at 1.6 ATA) at two and 22 hours

post-reperfusion. Renal function was assessed via serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels.

Histopathological and molecular analyses examined tissue damage, inflammation, and necroptosis

markers (p-RIP3/pMLKL).

Results: The I/R group showed significantly elevated BUN and creatinine levels compared to the Control

(p < 0.05). HBO2 significantly reduced these levels compared to the I/R group. Histopathology revealed

severe tubular damage and neutrophil infiltration in I/R rats, while HBO2 improved renal structure and

decreased necroptosis activation.

Discussion: HBO2 effectively reduced renal I/R injury by mitigating inflammation, oxidative stress, and

necroptosis. These findings suggest HBO2 as a potential therapeutic strategy for AKI, warranting further

clinical investigation.

Keywords: acute kidney injury; hyperbaric oxygen treatment; ischemia-reperfusion;

necroptosis