Neuropharmacological Dynamics of Hyperbaric Oxygen Effects
Summary
Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO₂) exposure profoundly alters central nervous system function by elevating tissue oxygen partial pressures and thereby modulating neurochemical and redox signalling pathways. At therapeutic pressures, HBO₂ promotes angiogenesis, neurogenesis and anti‐inflammatory responses, underpinning its clinical use in wound healing, stroke rehabilitation and certain neurodegenerative conditions. However, at higher pressures or prolonged exposures, excessive reactive oxygen species accumulation disrupts the balance of inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmission, precipitating central nervous system oxygen toxicity (CNS‐OT). Key targets include the GABAergic and glutamatergic systems, whose activity is reshaped by oxidant‐mediated modifications of receptors, transporters and downstream second-messenger cascades. Mitochondrial dynamics are equally affected: altered mitophagy and biogenesis signals reflect an adaptive response to oxidative stress but can also contribute to neuroexcitation and seizure onset. The interplay between neurotransmitter availability, cerebral blood flow regulation and mitochondrial quality control defines the therapeutic window of HBO₂ and the threshold for toxicity. Understanding these neuropharmacological dynamics is critical for optimising dosing regimens, mitigating adverse effects in diving and clinical settings, and exploring novel combinatorial strategies that harness redox preconditioning or targeted receptor modulation.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Neuropharmacological Dynamics of Hyperbaric Oxygen Effects publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in neuropharmacological dynamics of hyperbaric oxygen effects across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO₂): Breathing of pure oxygen at pressures above one atmosphere to increase tissue oxygenation.
Central nervous system oxygen toxicity (CNS-OT): A set of neurological symptoms and seizures triggered by excessive oxygen levels under pressure.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA): The principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, modulation of which influences seizure susceptibility.
Glutamatergic system: The network of excitatory synapses using glutamate as neurotransmitter, critical for synaptic plasticity and excitotoxicity.
Mitophagy: The selective removal of damaged mitochondria by autophagy, a process that maintains cellular energy homeostasis under oxidative stress.
References
- GAT inhibition preserves cerebral blood flow and reduces oxidant damage to mitochondria in rodents exposed to extreme hyperbaric oxygen. Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience (2023).
- CNS function and dysfunction during exposure to hyperbaric oxygen in operational and clinical settings. Redox Biology (2019).
- Тhe role of the glutamatergic system in the mechanism of development of hyperbaric oxygen seizures. Marine Medicine (2022).
About these summaries
This Nature Research Intelligence Topic summary is created with the cited references and a large language model. We take care to ground generated text with facts, and have systems in place to gain human feedback on the overall quality of the process in line with our AI principles. We strive to create accurate and useful summaries for people unfamiliar with the research topic and that supports this goal. These pages are a beta release and will be updated as we learn how best to help people gain value from a research topic summary.
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.