Hyperoxia is routinely used to prevent or treat hypoxemia and acute respiratory failure, and sustain aerobic life in military
and commercial operations. However, breathing oxygen acutely at high pressures and for long durations is toxic. The present
study aimed to investigate effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) exposure on plasma metabolite profiles. We applied a liquid
chromatography-mass spectrometry based metabolomic approach to analyze metabolites from plasma of both rats and humans under
HBO conditions to explore the possible effects of HBO on the body. Uric acid (UA) and arachidonic acid concentrations were
changed significantly in both rat and human plasma, and some precursor metabolites of UA in the UA pathway were also changed.
For acute and chronic HBO exposures on plasma UA after exogenous UA injection, the results indicated exogenous administration
of UA significantly increased plasma UA and ascorbic acid levels. However, these returned to normal levels 48 h after HBO
exposure. These findings suggest HBO exposure can combat the harmful effects of increased UA from exposure to elevated partial
pressure of oxygen. Furthermore, exogenous administration of UA not only does not disturb its metabolism, but also increases
its anti-oxidative capacity (increase ascorbic acid). These findings suggest that the use of antioxidants might be necessary
under HBO exposure, especially under extreme HBO exposure.
Keywords Hyperbaric oxygen - Metabolomics - Uric acid - Arachidonic acid - Oxygen toxicity
Xinru Liu and Wenwu Liu contributed equally to the work.