Background/aim: This study was designed to provide further evidence for the interactions between hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and nitric oxide (NO) in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.
Materials and methods: Rat hearts were studied with the Langendorff technique using the H2S donor sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS, 40 μM) and the cystathionine gamma-lyase (CTH or CSE) inhibitor DL-propargylglycine (PAG, 1 mM). NO synthase inhibitor L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 30 mg/kg, 7 days) was administered before the isolation. The hearts were homogenized for biochemical and molecular analysis.
Results: NaHS reversed I/R-induced cardiac performance impairment, increased tissue nitric oxide production and decreased tissue markers for cardiac injury, while L-NAME inhibited these effects. The expression of CTH was increased with PAG, which was suppressed by L-NAME.
Conclusion: H2S and NO increase each other's production suggesting their interaction and cooperation in cardioprotection against I/R injury.
Keywords: Hydrogen sulfide; ischemia/reperfusion injury; isolated heart; nitric oxide; oxidative damage.
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