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

我们研究了氢分子对应激性脑功能障碍的影响，包括认知和记忆障碍、抑郁和焦虑。我们最近报道了分子氢可以减少氧化应激，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易感性的一个因素，并阻止海马神经发生，而海马神经发生可能与认知功能有关。本研究的主要结果已发表在《神经精神药理学》杂志上。给小鼠施加固定应激，每天10小时，连续6周。含有高浓度氢分子的水（氢水）可随意使用。通过被动回避测试、新颖识别测试和Morris水迷宫测试，我们发现氢水改善了应激引起的认知功能下降。氢水还能恢复抑制应激和氧化应激引起的神经发生下降。此外，我们将轻度应激组合制成抑郁模型小鼠，未发现氢水对该模型有任何影响，而氢水恢复了神经发生的下降。关于氢分子对神经元细胞作用的精确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.