# Molecular Hydrogen Reduces Electromagnetic Pulse-Induced Male Rat Reproductive System Damage in a Rodent Model.
> 電磁パルス照射による雄ラット生殖系障害に対する水素分子の保護効果


## Abstract

This study examined whether hydrogen-rich water could mitigate reproductive system damage caused by electromagnetic pulse (EMP) exposure in male Sprague-Dawley rats (8 weeks old). Animals were subjected to EMP at a peak intensity of 1000 kV/m with 200 pulses, with or without hydrogen-rich water supplementation. EMP exposure elevated testicular apoptosis rates and apoptosis-related protein levels, reduced sperm motility and viability, lowered serum testosterone concentrations, and diminished antioxidant enzyme activity in testicular tissue. Administration of hydrogen-rich water reversed these changes, restoring sperm motility, testosterone levels, and antioxidative capacity. Transcriptomic and untargeted metabolomic analyses indicated that EMP primarily disrupted oxidative phosphorylation, TNF signaling, and cytokine-receptor interaction pathways, while molecular hydrogen exerted broad effects on metabolic pathways, potentially through modulation of specific metabolite levels.

### Mechanism

Molecular hydrogen selectively scavenges hydroxyl radicals, reducing oxidative stress in testicular tissue. This is accompanied by normalization of TNF signaling and oxidative phosphorylation pathways, leading to suppression of apoptosis and restoration of antioxidant enzyme activity.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Ma L, Hao W, Feng WB, Cao L, Qin L, Wang Y, et al.
- **Journal**: Oxid Med Cell Longev
- **Year**: 2022
- **PMID**: [36199428](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36199428/)
- **DOI**: [10.1155/2022/3469474](https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/3469474)
- **PMC**: [PMC9527415](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9527415/)
- **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 36199428. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/36199428
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [36199428](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36199428/)