Hydrogen Gas Reduces Parkinson's Drug Side Effects in Rats
- Authors
- Glauce C. Nascimento, Bruna M. Santos, Joao F. Pedrazzi, Danyelle Silva-Amaral, Mariza Bortolanza, Grant T. Harris, Elaine Del Bel, Luiz G.S. Branco
- Journal
- Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health
- Year
- 2023
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.bbih.2023.100623
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- Brazil
- Health Condition
- Parkinson's Disease
- Body System
- Nervous System
TL;DR
Breathing in hydrogen gas can reduce unwanted jerky movements caused by a common Parkinson's disease medication.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas inhalation reduced involuntary movements caused by L-DOPA treatment in rats with Parkinson's disease, an effect linked to decreased brain inflammation.
Summary
Researchers tested whether inhaling hydrogen gas could reduce involuntary movements (called dyskinesia) that occur as a side effect of L-DOPA treatment in Parkinson's disease. Using a rat model of Parkinson's disease, they found that rats exposed to hydrogen gas before receiving L-DOPA showed fewer abnormal involuntary movements compared to control rats. The hydrogen gas appeared to work by reducing inflammation in the brain, particularly by calming immune cells called microglia and lowering inflammatory molecules.
Practical Takeaway
This early-stage animal study suggests hydrogen gas inhalation may help reduce a troubling side effect of Parkinson's disease medication. However, this research was conducted only in rats, and much more work—including human trials—would be needed before any conclusions could be drawn about whether this approach would be safe or effective for people taking L-DOPA.
Abstract
L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA)-induced dyskinesia is a side effect of Parkinson's disease treatment and it is characterized by atypical involuntary movements. A link between neuroinflammation and L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia has been documented. Hydrogen gas (H2) has neuroprotective effects in Parkinson's disease models and has a major anti-inflammatory effect. Our objective is to test the hypothesis that H2 inhalation reduces L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia. 15 days after 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of dopaminergic neurons were made (microinjection into the medial forebrain bundle), chronic L-DOPA treatment (15 days) was performed. Rats were exposed to H2 (2% gas mixture, 1 h) or air (controls) before L-DOPA injection. Abnormal involuntary movements and locomotor activity were conducted. Striatal microglia and astrocyte was analyzed and striatal and plasma samples for cytokines evaluation were collected after the abnormal involuntary movements analysis. H2 inhalation attenuated L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia. The gas therapy did not impair the improvement of locomotor activity achieved by L-DOPA treatment. H2 inhalation reduced activated microglia in the lesioned striatum, which is consistent with the observed reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines levels. Display of abnormal involuntary movements was positively correlated with plasma IL-1β and striatal TNF-α levels and negatively correlated with striatal IL-10 levels. Prophylactic H2 inhalation decreases abnormal involuntary movements in a preclinical L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia model. The H2 antidyskinetic effect was associated with decreased striatal and peripheral inflammation. This finding has a translational importance to L-DOPA-treated parkinsonian patients' well-being.