Hydrogen inhalation: in vivo rat genotoxicity tests

Abstract

Preclinical and clinical studies have shown that molecular hydrogen (H2) has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties. Safety data are available in the literature and acute toxicity has been tested in isolated cells and laboratory animals. We have evaluates the genotoxicity of H2 in vivo in rats after 72 h exposure, following the International Council for Harmonization guidelines ICH S2 (R1). The study was conducted on three groups of male Wistar rats: a negative control group, a positive control group receiving methyl methanesulfonate, and a H2-treated group receiving a 3.1% H2 gas mixture for 72 h. Alkaline comet, formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase (Fpg)-modified comet and bone marrow micronucleus assays were performed. H2 exposure increased neither comet-tail DNA intensity (DNA damage) nor frequency of “hedgehogs” in blood, liver, lungs, or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. No increase in Fpg-sensitive sites in lungs, no induction of micronucleus formation, and no imbalance of immature erythrocyte to total erythrocyte ratio (IME%) was observed in rats exposed to H2. The ICH S2 (R1) test-battery revealed no in vivo genotoxicity in Wistar rats after 72 h inhalation of a mixture containing 3.1% H2.