Effect of maternal molecular hydrogen administration for fetal damage of preterm birth

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K16796
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56040:Obstetrics and gynecology-related
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Nakano-Kobayashi Tomoko 名古屋大学, 医学部附属病院, 講師 (90754953)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 早産 / 分子状水素 / 炎症 / ミクログリア

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have accumulated results suggesting that maternal and veterinary administration of molecular hydrogen may reduce brain damage in pups of inflammatory preterm birth. In this study, we evaluated the fetal teratogenicity and development of molecular hydrogen and found no apparent adverse events. Furthermore, in the neonatal brains after in utero exposure to inflammation, microglial CD11c expression was found to be reduced and myelopoiesis was decreased. Clinical specimens also showed that chorioamnionitis caused a decrease in brain volume in the globus pallidus and nucleus accumbens, although gross brain structural changes and developmental index were minimal, suggesting an association with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia in preterm infants in the future.

Free Research Field

周産期

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

早産により生まれた児の重篤な後遺症を予防する研究は、児の生命予後を改善する可能性があり、社会的意義があると思われる。
本研究の結果をもとに、今後ヒトの胎児脳障害をMRIで評価することを応用し、妊婦に分子状水素を投与することの有用性を検討していくことは、今後の先制医療の開発において重要な点であると考える。