Vasoactive effects of H2S in high-calorie diet-induced metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome (MS), a global problem of the 21st century, is characterized by hypertension, which is caused by the predominance of vasoconstriction over vasodilation processes. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a recognized endogenous gas signaling molecule that has a variety of biological effects, including changes in vascular tone. The aim of this work was to study the changes in contractile activity of isolated rat aorta in response to the influence of hydrogen sulfide donor sodium hydrosulfide and endogenous H2S during metabolic disorders induced by the use of a cafeteria diet. The study was performed on mature male Wistar rats. The use of a cafeteria diet for 7 weeks led to the development of metabolic disorders that characterize MS. The results of myographic study of thoracic aorta segments indicated that the introduction of NaHS in both the control and experimental groups led to bimodal effects depending on the concentration: vasoconstriction at low concentrations and significantly more pronounced vasodilation at high concentrations. Statistically significant changes in vasoconstrictor responses were not discovered during the development of MS, but there was an increase in H2S-induced vasodilation. The influence of endogenous H2S depends on the physiological state of perivascular adipose tissue and decreases in MS. Thus, increased H2S-induced vasodilation in MS likely reflects a compensatory mechanism for decreased endogenous H2S production. ATPsensitive potassium channels play a leading role in mediating the relaxation responses of aortic smooth muscle to H2S. However, their contribution to the development of vasodilation is less pronounced in MS, which is a consequence of changes in the involvement of other mechanisms. One of these mechanisms may be a H2S-induced reduction in the increased vasoconstriction associated with MS, caused by increased superoxide anion production. The interaction of various pathways for the implementation of H2S-induced vasorelaxation in metabolic disorders represents an important direction for further research to prevent the development of vascular diseases, including by regulating vascular tone. 

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