Involvement of Hydrogen Sulfide in Endothelium-Derived Relaxing Factor-Mediated Responses in Rat Cerebral Arteries

H2S is a novel vasoactivator. To verify the hypothesis that H2S may act as an endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) in the rat cerebrovasculature, the role of H2S in endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF)-mediated responses was investigated.

Cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) was knocked down with an siRNA technique. Artery diameter, hyperpolarization and Ca2+-activated K+ (KCa) current were measured.

CSE knockdown was indicated by a decrease in protein and mRNA expression in the rat middle cerebral artery (MCA) and cerebral basilar artery (CBA). Acetylcholine (ACh) induced significant hyperpolarization and vasodilation in endothelium-intact MCA and CBA. Removal of the endothelium abolished these responses. The nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor L-NAME, but not the PGI2 production inhibitor indomethacin, significantly inhibited ACh-induced hyperpolarization and vasodilation in the CBA. In the presence of L-NAME and indomethacin, ACh-induced hyperpolarization and vasodilation in the MCA and CBA were attenuated. The non-NO/PGI2-mediated responses were abolished by the KCa channel blockers charybdotoxin and apamin. In the cerebral arteries from the CSE knockdown rat, non-NO/PGI2-mediated responses were significantly attenuated, and the remaining responses were abolished by charybdotoxin and apamin or the CSE inhibitor propargylglycine. CSE knockdown did not affect L-NAME-sensitive responses in the CBA. Sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) augmented the KCa current in CBA vascular smooth muscle cells.

EDHF-mediated responses in rat cerebral arteries were due to H2S activating the KCa channel.