Effects of nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide on the relaxation of pulmonary arteries in rats.
BACKGROUND
The balance between vasodilation and vasoconstriction plays a major role in maintaining vascular homeostasis. However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. More and more evidence suggested that there was an interaction in the regulation of vasorelaxation between nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S). We explored the interaction between and effects of NO and H(2)S on the relaxation of pulmonary arteries in rats.


METHODS
Seven male Sprague-Dawley rats were anaesthetized with chloral hydrate and the pulmonary arteries of each rat separated for the study of vascular activities. The vasorelaxing activities of pulmonary artery rings in response to different doses of a NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), or a H(2)S donor, sodium hydrogen sulfide (NaHS), were measured in vitro. When pulmonary artery rings were treated with a cystathionine-gamma-lyase inhibitor, DL-propargylglycine, in the presence of SNP or a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, in the presence of NaHS, the changes in relaxing activities were analyzed.


RESULTS
The relaxation of pulmonary artery rings was in a dose dependent manner in response to either SNP or NaHS. The relaxation rates of pulmonary artery rings increased from (30.90+/-4.62)% to (60.50+/-8.08)% when the concentration of SNP increased from 1 micromol/L to 3 micromol/L and from (26.13+/-4.12)% to (53.09+/-14.01)% when the concentration of NaHS increased from 25 micromol/L to 100 micromol/L. However, when appropriate inhibitor was added, the relaxation responses to SNP and NaHS decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggested that similarly to NO, H(2)S acted as a vasorelaxant either independently of, or synergistically with NO in the regulation of vasorelaxation. The interaction between NO and H(2)S played an important role in regulating relaxing activities of pulmonary arteries.
Wang
Yan-fei
YF
Department of Paediatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
Mainali
Prabha
P
Tang
Chao-shu
CS
Shi
Lin
L
Zhang
Chun-yu
CY
Yan
Hui
H
Liu
Xue-qin
XQ
DU
Jun-bao
JB
D000818:Animals; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*
D009599:Nitroprusside; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide