Abstract:AimTo explore the effect of tobacco smoke on hydrogen sulfide (H2S)/cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) system in rat thoracic aorta.Methods10-week-old SD rats for the study were randomly divided into control group, short-term smoking group, mid-term smoking group and long-term smoking group.Passive cigarette smoking rat model was established by the method of tobacco smoked suction.The concentrations of H2S in the serum was measured with sensitive sulfur electrode.The expression of CSE in the thoracic aortic smooth muscle was observed with the methods of immunohistochemical staining and quantitative microscopic image analysis.ResultsH2S concentration between short-term smoking group and control group had no significant difference (p>0.05).H2S concentration of long-term smoking group and mid-term smoking group were respectively lower than that of the control group and short-term smoking group (p<0.01).H2S concentration of long-term smoking group was significantly lower than that of the mid-term smoking group (p<0.05).The concentration of H2S reduced with the extension of time of tobacco smoke suction and was time-dependent.The CSE expression in the thoracic aortic between short-term smoking group and control group had no significant difference (p>0.05), expression in long-term smoking group and mid-term smoking group were respectively lower than in control group and short-term smoking group (p<0.05), and in long-term smoking group was significantly lower than in the mid-term smoking group (p<0.05).The CSE and SUR-2 expression reduced with the extension of time of tobacco smoked suction, and was time-dependent.ConclusionsTobacco smoke can significantly lower H2S content in the rat serum and CSE expression in the rat thoracic aorta.
