# Pharmacokinetics of hydrogen administered intraperitoneally as hydrogen-rich saline and its effect on ischemic neuronal cell death in the brain in gerbils.
> 水素含有生理食塩水の腹腔内投与による薬物動態と脳虚血後神経細胞死への影響：スナネズミを用いた検討


## Abstract

Using a gerbil model of transient unilateral cerebral ischemia, this study examined the neuroprotective potential of intraperitoneally administered hydrogen-rich saline (H2-rich saline) and characterized its pharmacokinetics. Animals received H2-rich saline or control saline every 12 hours for three or seven doses. Histological assessment on day 3 revealed significantly fewer apoptotic neurons in the cerebral cortex of the H2-rich saline group, and on day 7, viable neuron counts in both the hippocampus and cortex were significantly higher compared with controls. Blood H2 measurements showed that inferior vena cava concentrations ranged from 0.00183 to 0.00725 mg/L, whereas carotid artery concentrations were approximately 0.04-fold lower, ranging from 0.00008 to 0.00023 mg/L. Despite minimal H2 delivery to the brain, substantial neuroprotection was observed, suggesting that indirect systemic mechanisms may contribute to the observed reduction in ischemic neuronal cell death.

### Mechanism

Intraperitoneally administered H2 reaches the inferior vena cava at measurable concentrations but is largely absent from the carotid circulation, implying that neuroprotection against ischemia-induced apoptosis is mediated through indirect systemic pathways rather than direct H2 delivery to the brain.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Hirano M, Sugai K, Fujisawa M, Kobayashi E, Katsumata Y, Hakamata Y, et al.
- **Journal**: PLoS One
- **Year**: 2022
- **PMID**: [36574398](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36574398/)
- **DOI**: [10.1371/journal.pone.0279410](https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0279410)
- **PMC**: [PMC9794077](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9794077/)
- **Study type**: animal study
- **Delivery route**: injection / infusion
- **Effect reported**: positive

## Delivery context

Intravenous hydrogen-saline infusion is a clinic-only route and is not viable for everyday self-administration. For routine hydrogen intake, inhalation is the most practical route, but inhalation carries explosion risk and concentration matters (empirical LFL of 10%; high-concentration 66% / 100% devices are not recommended).

## Safety notes

Intravenous hydrogen-saline infusion is a clinic-only route and is not viable for everyday self-administration. For routine hydrogen intake, inhalation is the most practical route, but inhalation carries explosion risk and concentration matters (empirical LFL of 10%; high-concentration 66% / 100% devices 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)

---

> **Cite as**: H2 Papers — PMID 36574398. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/36574398
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [36574398](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36574398/)