Hydrogen-rich saline (HRS) decreased peritoneal mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1), monocyte chemotactic protein-1(MCP-1), E-selectin, E-cadherin, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in peritoneal adhesion bands in sham, PPA, PPA+HRS (5), and PPA+HRS (10) groups were detected by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT–PCR). All data were expressed as mean ±SD.