# Mitigating radiation-induced brain injury via NLRP3/NLRC4/Caspase-1 pyroptosis pathway: Efficacy of memantine and hydrogen-rich water.
> NLRP3/NLRC4/Caspase-1ピロトーシス経路を介した放射線誘発性脳損傷に対するメマンチンおよび水素水の効果


## Abstract

This animal study examined the effects of memantine hydrochloride and hydrogen-rich water on radiation-induced brain injury (RIBI) using 40 Sprague-Dawley rats allocated to five groups. Following cranial irradiation, all irradiated animals exhibited weight loss and salivation; however, hydrogen-rich water administration was associated with a notable reduction in these symptoms. Histopathological evaluation of hippocampal tissue revealed severe damage in the radiation-only group, whereas groups receiving memantine and/or hydrogen-rich water showed significant attenuation of such damage. Molecular analyses demonstrated decreased oxidative stress markers and reduced inflammatory responses in the intervention groups. Immunohistochemical findings corroborated these molecular observations. The results suggest that suppression of the NLRP3/NLRC4/Caspase-1 pyroptosis pathway underlies the neuroprotective effects observed with both agents, supporting their potential role in mitigating RIBI.

### Mechanism

Hydrogen-rich water and memantine are proposed to suppress the NLRP3/NLRC4/Caspase-1 pyroptosis pathway, thereby reducing oxidative stress markers and attenuating inflammatory responses, which collectively mitigate hippocampal damage following cranial irradiation.

## Bibliographic

- **Authors**: Xu K, Sun G, Luo H, Wang Y, Liu M, Liu H, et al.
- **Journal**: Biomed Pharmacother
- **Year**: 2024
- **PMID**: [38906028](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38906028/)
- **DOI**: [10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116978](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116978)
- **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 38906028. https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/38906028
> **Source**: PubMed PMID [38906028](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38906028/)