Effects of hydrogen sulfide on carbohydrate metabolism and blood pressure in obese type‐2 diabetic rats

Abstract

AimDiabetes is associated with altered endogenous hydrogen sulfide levels, which plays an important role in regulating glucose homeostasis. Here we report on the long‐term effects of sodium hydrosulfide (NaSH) administration on carbohydrate metabolism in obese type 2 diabetic rats.MethodType‐2 diabetes was established using high fat‐low dose streptozotocin. Rats were treated for 9 weeks with intraperitoneal injections of NaSH (0.28, 0.56, 1.6, 2.8, and 5.6 mg/kg) or vehicle. Serum fasting glucose was measured weekly for one month and then at the end of the study. Fasting serum insulin was measured before and after the treatment. At the end of the study, glucose tolerance, pyruvate tolerance, and insulin secretion were determined and blood pressure was measured.ResultsIn diabetic rats, NaSH at 1.6–5.6 mg/kg increased serum glucose and decreased serum insulin; NaSH at 0.28 and 0.56 mg/kg had no effect on these parameters. High doses of NaSH in diabetic rats decreased glucose and pyruvate tolerance as well as insulin secretion; 0.28 mg/kg had no effect, 0.56 mg/kg improved glucose tolerance but not pyruvate tolerance and insulin secretion. Diabetic rats had higher BP than controls; all doses of NaSH decreased blood pressure in these cohorts. In controls, NaSH (5.6 mg/kg) decreased insulin secretion as well as glucose and pyruvate tolerance, while increased serum glucose. NaSH at 1.6–5.6 mg/kg decreased blood pressure in controls.ConclusionIn diabetic rats high doses of NaSH increased serum glucose level, decreased serum insulin and impaired glucose and pyruvate tolerance, a low dose decreased serum glucose during glucose tolerance. NaSH decreased blood pressure at all doses.Support or Funding InformationKK: Supported in part by the National Institutes of Health [R24DA018055; R01GM123508]. SG, SJ, AG: Supported in part by Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences[grant No. 1396/D/93065], Tehran, Iran.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.