Sodium hydrosulfide alleviated pulmonary vascular structural remodeling induced by high pulmonary blood flow in rats

Abstract

Aim: To explore the possible role of endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H 2S), a novel gasotransmitter, in the pathogenesis of pulmonary vascular structural remodeling (PVSR) induced by high pulmonary blood flow. Methods: Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into sham, shunt, sham+NaHS (a H2S donor) and shunt+NaHS groups. Rats in shunt and shunt+NaHS groups underwent an abdominal aorta-inferior vena cava shunt, and rats in shunt+NaHS and sham+NaHS groups were intraperitoneally injected with NaHS. PVSR was investigated using optical microscope and transmission electron microscope. Lung tissue H2S was evaluated by sulfide-sensitive electrodes. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS), heme oxygenase (HO-1), proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation were analyzed by Western blotting. Results: After 11 weeks of shunting, PVSR developed with a decrease in lung tissue H2S production and an increase in nitric oxide (NO). However, lung tissue carbon monoxide (CO) did not change. After the treatment with NaHS for 11 weeks, H 2S donor ameliorated PVSR and downregulated PCNA expression and ERK activation with an increase in lung tissue CO production and HO-1 protein expression but a decrease in NO production, NOS activity and eNOS protein expression in shunted rats. Conclusions: H2S exerted a regulatory effect on PVSR induced by high pulmonary blood flow. Meanwhile, H2S down-regulated the ERK/MAPK signal pathway, inhibited the NO/NOS pathway and enhanced the CO/HO pathway in rats with high pulmonary blood flow. © 2006 CPS and SIMM.