Cognitive function in outbred house mice after 22 weeks of drinking oxygenated water

Oxygen-enriched drinking water, which is increasingly sold worldwide, is claimed to “keep both the body and the mind healthy.” However, currently there is no scientific evidence for such a statement. Therefore, we assessed the effect of 22 weeks of drinking oxygenated water on cognitive performance in healthy mice, using a spatial learning task and behavioral observations. Thirty-six female mice (age 3 to 6 months) received either hyperoxic or normal tap water (approximately 6.6 vs. 1.8 μg O2 g− 1 day− 1, respectively) throughout the study period. Mice were weighed one to two times per month, and a blood sample was taken from the tail to determine the hematocrit. In addition, red blood cells were counted microscopically one and two months after the start of the experiment. Four weeks after the last blood sample (21 weeks after the start of the experiment), exploration behavior and locomotor activity were observed on a holeboard, and learning ability tests were performed using an elevated open maze. No significant differences were seen between groups for any of the parameters investigated. Thus, the study does not support the hypothesis that drinking oxygenated water improves cognitive function or hematological parameters in mice.