Abstract:

The novel endogenous gasotransmitters-hydrogen sulfide(endogenous H₂S)has the similar features with nitric oxide (NO), such as vascular relaxation, inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and regulation of vascular smooth muscle cells tension. This series study discussed the role of endogenous H₂S in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy, by observing the changes of endogenous H₂S in the kidney of diabetic nephropathy (DN) rats, the relationship between endogenous H₂S and cystathionine 2β2 synthase(CBS) and cystathionine 2γ2 lyase(CSE), the renal pathological changes in DN rats, the effective of endogenous H₂S on the distribution and expression of the myofibroblast characteristic markers-α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and extracellular matrix components-fibronectin (FN) in the kidney of DN rats. Our results showed that 1the production of endogenous H₂S in the kidney of DN rats reduced significantly and CSE in the kidney of DN rats was significantly lower than that in normal rats.2 The reduction of endogenous H₂S was closely related to the pathological changes and clinical symptoms of DN rats.3 The expression and distribution of α-SMA in the kidney tissue of DN rats and FN in mesangial matrix increased,and after supplementation with exogenous H₂S,both of them decreased significantly. The production of endogenous H₂S in the kidney of DN rats decreased significantly, and the reduced level of CSE may be a direct factor. Exogenous supplementation of H₂S can inhibit the generation of myofibroblast and the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix. Our results suggested the reduced production of endogenous H₂S may correlated with the occurrence of diabetic nephropathy.

Key words: the rats with diabetic nephropathy, hydrogen sulfide, cystathionine 2γ2 lyase, α-smooth muscle actin, fibronectin