Abstract
BackgroundHydrogen sulphide (H2S), a member of the gasotransmitters family, is known to play patho-physiological role in different body systems including during pregnancy. But its involvement in myometrial spontaneity and associated signalling pathways in uterus in non-pregnant animals is yet to be studied. Present study describes the effect of L-cysteine, an endogenous H2S donor, on isolated myometrial strips of non-pregnant buffaloes and the underlying signaling mechanism(s).ResultsL-cysteine (10 nM-30 mM) produced concentration-dependent contractile effect on buffalo myometrium which was extracellular Ca2+ and L-type calcium channels-dependent. Significant rightward shift of dose-response curve of L-cysteine was observed with significant decrease in maxima in the presence of amino-oxyacetic acid (AOAA; 100 μM) and d, l-propargylglycine (PAG; 100 μM), the specific blockers of cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE), respectively. Existence of CBS enzyme of 63 kDa and CSE of 45 kDa molecular weights was confirmed by western blot using specific antibodies and also by immunohistochemistry.ConclusionsEndogenous H2S along with its biosynthetic enzymes (CBS and CSE) is evidently present in uteri of non-pregnant buffaloes and it regulates spontaneity in uteri of non-pregnant buffaloes and this effect is dependent on extracellular Ca2+ influx through nifedipine-sensitive L-type calcium channels. Thus H2S-signalling pathway may be a potential target to alter the uterine activities in physiology and patho-physiolgical states.
Highlights
Hydrogen sulphide (H2S), a member of the gasotransmitters family, is known to play patho-physiological role in different body systems including during pregnancy
Ca2+ from Ringer Locke solution (RLS) resembled with the condition of lack of extracellular Ca2+ and thereby the response produced by L-cysteine seemed to be solely dependent on intracellular calcium
Role of calcium in L-cysteine-induced myometrial contractility is evident from the fact that following removal of calcium from extracellular fluid (RLS), myometrial spontaneity was completely abolished and this suggests the role of extracellular calcium in generation and propagation of myometrial spontaneity in buffaloes
Summary
Hydrogen sulphide (H2S), a member of the gasotransmitters family, is known to play patho-physiological role in different body systems including during pregnancy. Its involvement in myometrial spontaneity and associated signalling pathways in uterus in non-pregnant animals is yet to be studied. Present study describes the effect of L-cysteine, an endogenous H2S donor, on isolated myometrial strips of non-pregnant buffaloes and the underlying signaling mechanism(s). Hydrogen sulphide (H2S), a well known environmental pollutant, has recently been classified as gasotransmitter along with other members (NO and CO) to regulate several physiological and biological functions. Brain and certain other tissues generate H2S from Lcysteine, the endogenous precursor which is catabolised by cystathionine β- synthase (CBS) and cystathionine γ-. Nair et al BMC Veterinary Research (2017) 13:379
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