# Molecular hydrogen is protective against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced nigrostriatal degeneration in a rat model of Parkinson's disease.
> パーキンソン病ラットモデルにおける6-ヒドロキシドーパミン誘発黒質線条体変性に対する分子状水素の保護効果


## Abstract

Molecular hydrogen selectively scavenges hydroxyl radicals without affecting other reactive oxygen or nitrogen species. Because mitochondrial dysfunction and resultant oxidative stress are central to dopaminergic neuronal loss in the substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease, this study investigated whether approximately 50%-saturated hydrogen dissolved in drinking water could protect against 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced nigrostriatal degeneration in rats. Hydrogen-enriched water was administered either before or after stereotactic 6-OHDA injection. Methamphetamine-induced rotational behavior and tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining of the substantia nigra and striatum were used as outcome measures. Both pre- and post-treatment with hydrogen water suppressed dopaminergic cell loss and attenuated behavioral deficits, indicating that hydrogen intake inhibited both the onset and progression of nigrostriatal degeneration in this model.

### Mechanism

Molecular hydrogen selectively neutralizes hydroxyl radicals, thereby reducing oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction caused by 6-OHDA, which in turn prevents dopaminergic neuronal loss in the substantia nigra.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Fu Y, Fujita Y, Ito M, Ichihara M, Masuda A, Suzuki Y, et al.
- **Journal**: Neurosci Lett
- **Year**: 2009 (2009-04-03)
- **PMID**: [19356598](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19356598/)
- **DOI**: [10.1016/j.neulet.2009.02.016](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2009.02.016)
- **Study type**: animal study
- **Delivery route**: hydrogen-rich water
- **Effect reported**: positive

## Delivery context

Hydrogen-rich water is a low-risk delivery route, but the achievable systemic hydrogen dose is bounded. For clinical applications, inhalation is the most efficient route; inhalation, however, carries explosion risk, and concentration matters (empirical LFL of 10% applies to inhalation environments; high-concentration devices are documented in the Consumer Affairs Agency accident database and are not recommended).

## Safety notes

Hydrogen-rich water is a low-risk delivery route, but the achievable systemic hydrogen dose is bounded. For clinical applications, inhalation is the most efficient route; inhalation, however, carries explosion risk, and concentration matters (empirical LFL of 10% applies to inhalation environments; high-concentration devices are documented in the Consumer Affairs Agency accident database and are not recommended).

See also:
- [Inhalation concentration and LFL / UFL](https://h2-papers.org/en/safety-notes/inhalation-concentration)
- [Consumer Affairs Agency accident cases](https://h2-papers.org/en/safety-notes/accident-cases)
- [Inhalation safety threshold lineage](https://h2-papers.org/en/safety-notes/lineage)

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> **Cite as**: H2 Papers — PMID 19356598. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/19356598
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [19356598](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19356598/)