Hydrogen-rich water ameliorates rat placental stress induced by water restriction.

Abstract

Maternal dehydration during pregnancy is associated with fetal growth restriction and increased susceptibility to adult-onset diseases. This animal study assigned pregnant Wistar rats to three groups (n=12 each): ad libitum water control, water restriction (one hour of drinking access daily from gestational days 7–17), and hydrogen-rich water (HRW) under the same restriction schedule. Water restriction reduced urine output, elevated serum osmolality, and decreased fetal weight and crown-rump length. HRW supplementation significantly improved placental efficiency without altering placental weight or fetal number. Histopathological analysis revealed better-developed junctional zones and denser labyrinth structures in the HRW group. Serological reactive oxygen metabolites declined, while placental expression of angiotensin II type 1 receptor, NF-κB, malondialdehyde, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase was reduced, and superoxide dismutase expression was restored. These findings indicate that HRW can mitigate placental oxidative stress caused by maternal water restriction.

Mechanism

HRW suppresses angiotensin II type 1 receptor signaling along with NF-κB, p38, and JNK pathways, reduces lipid peroxidation markers (MDA, 8-OHdG), and restores superoxide dismutase activity, collectively reducing placental oxidative stress under dehydration conditions.