# Longitudinal multiparametric MRI study of hydrogen-enriched water with minocycline combination therapy in experimental ischemic stroke in rats.
> 水素富化水とミノサイクリン併用による実験的脳梗塞ラットモデルへの縦断的多パラメータMRI評価


## Abstract

Using a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model, this study examined the effects of hydrogen-enriched water alone (H2) and in combination with minocycline (H2M) through longitudinal multiparametric MRI and neurological scoring. Twelve animals per group were assessed at 1 and 7 days post-stroke. Both H2 and H2M groups showed significantly reduced infarct volumes relative to vehicle controls at both time points, and neurological functional recovery was improved by day 7 in both active treatment groups. Secondary analyses revealed that H2M additionally suppressed post-stroke hyperperfusion during the hyperacute phase and substantially reduced white matter injury. This represents the first longitudinal MRI-based comparison of H2 alone versus H2 combined with a neuroprotective agent in experimental ischemic stroke.

### Mechanism

Molecular hydrogen acts as an antioxidant that freely crosses the blood-brain barrier and cellular membranes, scavenging free radicals involved in cytotoxic cascades of ischemic brain injury, thereby reducing infarct volume and attenuating white matter damage.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Jiang Z, Alamuri TT, Muir ER, Choi DW, Duong TQ
- **Journal**: Brain Res
- **Year**: 2020 (2020-12-01)
- **PMID**: [32919984](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32919984/)
- **DOI**: [10.1016/j.brainres.2020.147122](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2020.147122)
- **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 32919984. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/32919984
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [32919984](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32919984/)