title: Role of hydrogen sulfide within the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus in the control of gastric function in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) is a gaseous messenger and serves as an important neuromodulator in the central nervous system. This study aimed to clarify the role of H2 S within the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV) in the control of gastric function in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cystathionine β-synthetase (CBS) is an important generator of endogenous H2 S in the brain. We investigated the distribution of CBS in the DMV using immunohistochemical method, and the effects of H2 S on gastric motility and on gastric acid secretion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CBS-immunoreactive (IR) neurons were detected in the rostral, intermediate and caudal DMV, with the highest number of CBS-IR neurons in the caudal DMV, and the lowest in the intermediate DMV. We also found that microinjection of the exogenous H2 S donor NaHS (0.04 and 0.08 mol/L; 0.1 μL; n = 6; p < 0.05) into the DMV significantly inhibited gastric motility with a dose-dependent trend, and promoted gastric acid secretion in Wistar rats. Microinjection of the same volume of physiological saline (PS; 0.1 μL, n = 6, p > 0.05) at the same location did not noticeably change gastric motility and acid secretion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data from these experiments suggest that the CBS that produces H2 S is present in the DMV, and microinjection of NaHS into the DMV inhibited gastric motility and enhanced gastric acid secretion in rats.
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science, Qi Lu Normal University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: H-Z
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: K-H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: H-B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Ai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003541:Cystathionine beta-Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D064426:Gasotransmitters / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D056152:Respiratory Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D064426:Gasotransmitters; D003541:Cystathionine beta-Synthase; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide
keywords: cystathionine-β-synthase; dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus; gastric acid secretion; gastric motility; hydrogen sulfide