Hydrogen Therapy Reduces Brain Activity and Cell Death in Severe Seizures
- Authors
- Ruihua Jia, Gemin Zhu, Rui Zhao, Tian Li, Wen Jiang, Xiaoli Cui
- Journal
- Journal of International Medical Research
- Year
- 2024
- DOI
- 10.1177/03000605241235589
- Study Type
- Rat
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Refractory Status Epilepticus
- Body System
- Neurological
TL;DR
Breathing hydrogen gas may help reduce brain activity related to severe, hard-to-treat seizures by protecting brain cells from damage.
Key Finding
Hydrogen treatment reduced brain electrical activity and decreased a key marker of neuronal damage (NR2B phosphorylation) in rats with severe, drug-resistant seizures, while also boosting antioxidant defenses.
Summary
Researchers induced severe seizures in rats and tested whether hydrogen treatment could help. They found that hydrogen-treated rats showed lower brain electrical activity (measured by EEG) compared to untreated rats, though seizure severity scores were similar between groups. The hydrogen appeared to work by reducing a specific brain protein's activation (NR2B phosphorylation) and by boosting the body's natural antioxidant defenses, which may have protected nerve cells from damage.
Practical Takeaway
This rat study suggests hydrogen may have neuroprotective effects in severe epilepsy by reducing oxidative stress and nerve cell damage. However, this is early-stage animal research only—human studies are needed to determine if these effects apply to people with epilepsy. The study did not show hydrogen reduced seizure frequency itself, only brain electrical activity patterns.
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the effects of hydrogen therapy on epileptic seizures in rats with refractory status epilepticus and the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Status epilepticus was induced using pilocarpine. The effects of hydrogen treatment on epilepsy severity in model rats were then monitored using Racine scores and electroencephalography (EEG), followed by western blot of plasma membrane N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subtype 2B (NR2B) and phosphorylated NR2B expression. We also generated a cellular epilepsy model using Mg2+-free medium and used polymerase chain reaction to investigate the neuroprotective effects of hydrogen. Results: There were no significant differences in Racine scores between the hydrogen and control groups. EEG amplitudes were lower in the hydrogen treatment group than in the control group. In epilepsy model rats, hippocampal cell membrane NR2B expression and phosphorylation increased gradually over time. Although hippocampal cell membrane NR2B expression was not significantly different between the two groups, NR2B phosphorylation levels were significantly lower in the hydrogen group. Hydrogen treatment also increased superoxide dismutase, mitochondrial (SOD2) expression. Conclusions: Hydrogen treatment reduced EEG amplitudes and NR2B phosphorylation; it also decreased neuronal death by reducing oxidative stress. Hydrogen may thus be a potential treatment for refractory status epilepticus by inhibiting membrane NR2B phosphorylation and oxidative stress.