title: Role of hydrogen sulfide production in inhibitory action of L-cysteine on isolated porcine irides.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the direct pharmacological actions of L-cysteine, a substrate for the production of H(2)S, on isolated porcine irides in the presence of tone induced by muscarinic receptor stimulation. Furthermore, we examined the underlying mechanism of action of L-cysteine in this smooth muscle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Isolated porcine iris muscle strips were set up in organ baths containing oxygenated Krebs buffer solution at 37 degrees C. Longitudinal isometric tension was recorded via a grass FT03 Force-Displacement Transducer and analyzed using the PolyView computer software. The relaxant action of L-cysteine on carbachol-induced tone was studied in the absence and presence of inhibitors of enzymes of the biosynthetic pathways for H(2)S, and prostanoids. In addition, we also examined the effect of ATP-sensitive K(+) (K(ATP)) channel antagonist, glibenclamide on relaxations induced by L-cysteine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  L-cysteine (30 nM-1 mM) evoked concentration-dependent relaxations of carbachol-induced tone in isolated porcine irides, reaching a maximum inhibition of 43% at 1 mM. This response was enhanced significantly (P < 0.001) in the presence of the COX inhibitor, flurbiprofen (3 microM). Additionally,in the presence of flurbiprofen, the H(2)S donors, NaHS and Na(2)S, mimicked the relaxations produced by L-cysteine, yielding IC(50) values of 5.8 microM and 180 microM, respectively. Both the inhibitor of cystathionine beta-synthase, AOA (30 microM) and the K(ATP) channel antagonist, glibenclamide (100 microM) caused significant (P < 0.001) rightward shifts in the concentration-response curves to L-cysteine and attenuated the maximum inhibitory response. Conversely, the inhibitor of cystathionine gamma-lyase, PAG (1 mM) blocked only relaxations caused by high concentrations of L-cysteine (> 100 microM).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The inhibitory action of L-cysteine in isolated porcine irides is dependent on the endogenous production of H(2)S by cystathionine gamma-lyase and cystathionine beta-synthase. Furthermore, prostanoids and K(ATP) channels are involved in the inhibitory action of L-cysteine in this tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Sunny E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Ohia
authors.forename: Catherine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Opere
authors.forename: Emmanuel M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Monjok
authors.forename: Ghislaine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kouamou
authors.forename: Angela M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Leday
authors.forename: Ya Fatou
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Njie-Mbye
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002217:Carbachol / Q000494:pharmacology; D018679:Cholinergic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D003541:Cystathionine beta-Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D003542:Cystathionine gamma-Lyase / Q000378:metabolism; D003545:Cysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005905:Glyburide / Q000494:pharmacology; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000378:metabolism*; D007498:Iris / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D054086:KATP Channels / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000502:physiology*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology*; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D018679:Cholinergic Agonists; D054086:KATP Channels; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D002217:Carbachol; D003541:Cystathionine beta-Synthase; D003542:Cystathionine gamma-Lyase; D003545:Cysteine; D005905:Glyburide; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide