Molecular hydrogen is protective against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced nigrostriatal degeneration in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease

Abstract

Molecular hydrogen serves as an antioxidant that reduces hydroxyl radicals, but not the other reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. In the past year, molecular hydrogen has been reported to prevent or ameliorate eight diseases in rodents and one in human associated with oxidative stress. In Parkinson’s disease, mitochondrial dysfunction and the associated oxidative stress are major causes of dopaminergic cell loss in the substantia nigra. We examined effects of ~50%-saturated molecular hydrogen in drinking water before or after the stereotactic surgery on 6-hydroxydopamine-induced nigrostrital degeneration in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease. Methamphetamine-induced behavioral analysis showed that molecular hydrogen prevented both the development and progression of the nigrostrital degeneration. Tyrosine hydroxylase staining of the substantia nigra and striatum also demonstrated that pre- and post-treatment with hydrogen prevented the dopaminergic cell loss. Our studies suggest that hydrogen water is likely able to retard the development and progression of Parkinson’s disease.

Study details

Article type

Original Research

Disease / injury model

6-hydroxydopamine-induced Parkinson’s disease (rat model)

Duration

4 weeks

Dose comparison

Only one concentration of hydrogen water (~0.4 mM, 50% saturation) was used; no dose comparison was performed.

Dose-dependent effect

No

Outcome

Positive

Findings

Molecular hydrogen in drinking water, administered before or after 6-hydroxydopamine lesioning, significantly prevented both the development and progression of nigrostriatal degeneration in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease, as evidenced by improved behavioral outcomes and preservation of dopaminergic neurons.