Hydrogen Saline Injection Protects Brain Cells After Stroke in Gerbils
Pharmacokinetics of hydrogen administered intraperitoneally as hydrogen-rich saline and its effect on ischemic neuronal cell death in the brain in gerbils
Research hubs: Brain & Nervous System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (gerbil)
- Authors
- Momoko Hirano, Kazuhisa Sugai, Masahiko Fujisawa, Eiji Kobayashi, Yoshinori Katsumata, Yoji Hakamata, Motoaki Sano
- Journal
- PLoS One
- Year
- 2022
- PMID
- 36574398
- Study Type
- Gerbil
- Delivery
- Saline (Dissolved)
- Dose
- Intraperitoneal administration three or seven times every 12 hours
- H₂ concentration
- 0.00183-0.00725 mg/L (0.114%-0.453%) in IVC; 0.00008-0.00023 mg/L (0.0049%-0.0146%) in carotid arter
- Duration
- 1 weeks
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 8 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Injecting saline with dissolved hydrogen into the abdomen of gerbils reduced brain cell death after a stroke, even though only a small amount of hydrogen reached the brain.
Key Finding
Intraperitoneal hydrogen-rich saline significantly reduced neuronal cell death in the hippocampus and cortex following stroke in gerbils, despite minimal hydrogen reaching the brain tissue.
Summary
Researchers gave gerbils (small rodents) hydrogen-rich salt water injected into the abdomen after inducing a stroke-like condition. They found that this treatment reduced the death of brain cells in two key brain regions (the hippocampus and cortex) compared to regular salt water. Surprisingly, measurements showed that very little hydrogen actually reached the brain through the bloodstream, suggesting the protective effect may work through an indirect mechanism rather than hydrogen directly protecting brain cells.
Practical Takeaway
This animal study suggests hydrogen may protect against stroke damage through indirect mechanisms in the body rather than direct action in the brain. However, this is early-stage research in gerbils only, and it remains unclear whether these findings would apply to humans or what the practical implications might be for hydrogen water consumption.
Abstract (excerpt)
Intraperitoneal administration of hydrogen (H2)-containing saline inhibited neuronal cell death in ischemic stroke in a number of animal models, but it is unknown whether H2 is absorbed from the abdominal cavity into the blood and reaches the brain. In this study, we investigated whether…