水素水の経口摂取がクロルピリホス誘発神経毒性をラットで軽減する
Chronic low-level exposure to the organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) generates oxidative stress and is associated with neurological damage. This animal study examined whether hydrogen-rich water (HRW) could protect Wistar rats against CPF-induced neurotoxicity. Rats received daily oral CPF (6.75 mg/kg, equivalent to 1/20 LD50) alongside HRW administration. Nissl staining and electron microscopy revealed that HRW preserved hippocampal neuronal architecture and mitochondrial integrity. Immunostaining showed attenuation of CPF-induced astrocytic GFAP upregulation. Oxidative stress markers were also modulated: MDA elevation was suppressed while GSH content and SOD and CAT activities were restored. Brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, which declined following CPF exposure, was recovered by HRW intake. An in vitro assay further demonstrated that AChE activity was higher in HRW than in normal water, both with and without the active CPF metabolite chlorpyrifos-oxon. These findings indicate that HRW exerts neuroprotective effects through antioxidant mechanisms and, notably, through a direct enhancement of AChE activity.
Hydrogen-rich water selectively scavenges hydroxyl radicals to reduce oxidative stress, restores antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GSH), and directly enhances acetylcholinesterase activity, thereby counteracting organophosphate-induced neurotoxicity.
Hydrogen-rich water is a low-risk delivery route, but the achievable systemic hydrogen dose is bounded. For clinical applications, inhalation is the most efficient route; inhalation, however, carries explosion risk, and concentration matters (empirical LFL of 10% applies to inhalation environments; high-concentration devices are documented in the Consumer Affairs Agency accident database and are not recommended).
See also:
https://h2-papers.org/en/papers/24967689