Cocaine exposure alters H2S tissue concentrations in peripheral mouse organs.
BACKGROUND
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is well-known as a physiological mediator in the mammalian brain and peripheral tissues. Among several factors that change the concentration of H2S, oxidative stress and generation of reactive oxygen species, which accompany neurochemical actions of drugs of abuse, are of recent interest.


OBJECTIVE
Limited data on the connection of cocaine and H2S levels prompted us to investigate the effect of this psychostimulant on the H2S concentration in the mouse brain and peripheral organs.


METHODS
Male BALB/C mice were given several cocaine dosage and treatment regimens, and the free and acid-labile H2S tissue concentrations were determined with a modified spectrophotometric method of Siegel.


RESULTS
We demonstrated the dose- and treatment-dependent decreases in the H2S level in the heart (83% of control level), and in the liver and kidney (17-34% of control levels) homogenates, but no changes were seen in the mouse brain. The strongest effect occurred after repeated administration of cocaine (20mg/kg) in all peripheral tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
A reduction in the peripheral tissue H2S level in the heart, liver and kidney homogenates after repeated injections of cocaine may be the result of a strong toxic effect of the drug.
Laboratory of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland. Electronic address: frankow@if-pan.krakow.pl.
Małgorzata
M
Frankowska
Department of Human Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland.
Bogdan
B
Wiliński
Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland.
Eugeniusz
E
Somogyi
Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland.
Joanna
J
Piotrowska
Laboratory of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland; Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland.
Małgorzata
M
Filip
Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland.
Włodzimierz
W
Opoka
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000378:metabolism*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D003042:Cocaine; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide
Brain; Cocaine; Hydrogen sulfide; Mice; Peripheral organs