Protective effects of molecular hydrogen on a stress-induced brain dysfunction

我们研究了分子氢在应激诱导的脑功能障碍中的作用，包括认知和记忆障碍、抑郁和焦虑。我们最近报道，分子氢可以降低氧化应激，并可以穿透血脑屏障来保护神经元。氧化应激被广泛认为是神经元脆弱性的一个因素，并阻止海马神经发生，这可能与认知功能有关。这项研究的主要结果已发表在《神经心理药理学》上。每天给予小鼠10h的束缚应激，连续6周。含有高浓度氢分子的水(氢水)可随意使用。我们使用被动回避测试、新颖再认测试和Morris水迷宫测试了学习和记忆能力，发现氢水改善了应激诱导的认知功能下降。氢水还恢复了因束缚压力而下降的神经再生，并减少了大脑中的氧化应激。此外，我们制作了轻度应激组合的抑郁症模型小鼠，没有发现氢水对该模型的任何影响，而氢水恢复了神经发生的下降。关于分子氢对神经细胞影响的确切分子机制正在研究中。

We investigated the effect of molecular hydrogen on a stress-induced brain dysfunction including cognitive and memory impairment, depression, and anxiety. We have recently reported that molecular hydrogen reduces oxidative stress and can penetrate the blood-brain barrier to protect neurons. Oxidative stress is widely accepted as a contributor to neuronal vulnerability and prevents hippocampal neurogenesis, which may be involved in cognitive function. The main results in this study have been published in Neuropsycopharmacology. Immobilization stress was given to mice 10 hours per day for 6 weeks. Water containing high concentration of hydrogen molecule (hydrogen water) was available ad libitum. We examined learning and memory ability using the passive avoidance test, novel recognition test and Morris water maze, and found that hydrogen water improved a stress-induced decline of cognitive function. Hydrogen water also restored the neurogenesis declined by restraint stress and reduced oxidative stress in the brain. Furthermore, we made depression-model mice with a combination of mild stress and did not find any effect of hydrogen water on this model, whereas hydrogen water restored a decline of neurogenesis. Precise molecular mechanisms concerning the effect of molecular hydrogen on neuronal cells is under investigation.