Protective Effect of Molecular Hydrogen Following Different Routes of Administration on D-Galactose-Induced Aging Mice

Abstract

Background

Molecular hydrogen (H₂) has been recognized as an effective antioxidant with no or little side effects. While it is known that oxidative stress is closely associated with aging, the beneficial effect of H₂ on oxidative stress-related aging is still unclear. In this study, a mouse model of D-galactose-induced aging was employed to investigate the protective effects of H₂.

Methods

The mice were administrated of H₂ via different routes (4% H₂ inhalation, H₂-rich water drinking, and H₂-rich saline injection), the aging-related biomarkers in plasma and the oxidative stress in different tissues were measured.

Results

The results showed that H₂ improved aging-related biomarkers, ie, total antioxidant capacity, advanced glycation end products, tumor necrosis factor-α, free fatty acids, and alanine aminotransferase in plasma. Furthermore, H₂ alleviated oxidative stress in the liver, brain, and heart by reducing the levels of lipid peroxidation and malondialdehyde and increasing the activity of superoxide dismutase. In addition, it seems that 4% H₂ inhalation was the most effective regarding the amount of H₂ taken up and in reducing the markers of oxidative stress in some of the tissues; however, the other routes of administration resulted in the same efficacy in most indicators.

Conclusion

H₂ can prevent oxidative stress in D-galactose-induced aging mice when administered by different routes.

Keywords:

• molecular hydrogen
• administration routes
• oxidative stress
• aging
• D-galactose

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 81770855], Taishan Scholars Program of Shandong Province [grant number ts201511057], Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation (ZR2020QH020), and Academic Promotion Programme of Shandong First Medical University [grant number 2019QL010, 2019PT009].

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.